Pickett's Charge

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/picketts-charge

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 event?Pickett's Charge, a Confederate infantry assault
2. What is the date?July 3, 1863
3. Why did the Confederate soldiers try to cross the open field?They thought the Union's artillery was weak after a big bombardment, and they wanted a decisive victory to end the war.
4. How many soldiers were in Pickett's Charge and how many were hurt?About 12,500 soldiers marched in the charge, and more than 6,000 of them were killed, wounded, or captured.

Artillery bombardment: A sustained attack using large guns that fire explosive shells.
Cemetery Ridge: A key elevated defensive position central to the Union line at Gettysburg.
High-water mark of the Confederacy: The furthest point of Confederate military advance into Union territory during the Civil War.
Strategic gamble: A risky plan or action taken with the hope of achieving a significant advantage or victory.