Battle of Hampton Roads

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/battle-of-hampton-roads

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the date of engagement?March 8-9, 1862
2. What is the naval theater?Hampton Roads, Virginia
3. Why were ironclad ships important in this battle?Ironclad ships were important because they were covered in iron armor, which protected them from the wooden ships' guns. This showed that wooden ships could no longer win battles.
4. How did the CSS Virginia and USS Monitor fight each other?The CSS Virginia and the USS Monitor fought for about three hours. They fired heavy guns at each other, but neither could break the other's iron armor, so both left the sea to repair.

Union Blockade: A naval strategy employed by the Union to isolate Confederate ports and prevent maritime trade and supply lines.
Ironclad Warship: A warship constructed with armored iron plates, offering significant protection against cannon fire.
Naval Ram: A projecting bow on a warship designed to pierce the hull of enemy vessels.
Revolving Gun Turret: A rotating armored structure housing naval guns, allowing for 360-degree firing capability.