Hardtack and Coffee, Food in the Civil War Close Reading

The Civil War is probably one of the most covered topics in a US History class. All too often, we focus too much on the battles and the famous generals and leaders. But what about a topic that was actually a bigger part of a soldier's everyday life than fighting? What about food? Hardtack and Coffee was a staple in the diet of the typical Union Soldier during the Civil War. The Hardtack would last for long periods of time, easy to carry and transport, and cheap to make, which made it ideal for large armies. Coffee gave the soldiers that kick that many of us need in the mornings! In this activity, students will read excerpts from John Billilngs' book, Hardtack and Coffee. Billings was a Union soldier in the Army of the Potomac and his book covers the "untold story of army life." Students will then have five questions to answer, with examples from the text being required. There is also a letter writing activity where students write home about their food experiences, and as a bonus...a hardtack recipe your students can take home and try for themselves! Your students will love learning all the different ways the soldiers prepared something so hard and plain and the coffee they drank!

There is an endless amount of Civil War primary sources, so this product saves you the trouble of having to find and format what you need all by yourself. Save time and energy, and go with a product that is student tested and approved! 

Created by U.S. History Market