USS Merrimack (1855)

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/uss-merrimack-1855

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 original designation?USS Merrimack, a steam frigate
2. What is the confederate conversion?Rebuilt as the ironclad CSS Virginia
3. What was the USS Merrimack and why was it special?The USS Merrimack was a big wooden steam frigate launched in 1855. It was the best of its kind, using steam power and a screw propeller to move faster than ships that only used sails.
4. How did the USS Merrimack become the CSS Virginia?After Union forces scuttled it to stop the Confederates from using it, Confederate engineers raised the wreck. They cut down the upper parts and covered the hull with thick, angled iron plates, turning it into the ironclad CSS Virginia.

Steam Frigate: A large, steam-powered warship, typically wooden, representing advanced naval technology of the mid-19th century.
Ironclad: A warship protected by iron or steel armor plates, designed to withstand heavy bombardment and revolutionize naval combat.
Screw Propeller: A mechanical device used for propelling ships, offering greater maneuverability and speed control than sails alone.
Naval Doctrine: The fundamental beliefs and principles that guide the conduct of naval warfare.