That first shot, at 4:30 a.m. on April 12, 1861, ignited the greatest, most decisive war in American history. The shell from the Confederate mortar, its red fuse glowing "like the wings of a firefly,'' according to one observer, hung briefly before beginning its descent and exploding directly over Fort Sumter in Charleston harbor. 2011 marks the sesquicentennial or 150th anniversary of the Civil War. The years of the Civil War were a time of great conflict for our nation. Using primary sources, lessons and interactives from Thinkfinity.org, immerse your students in the Civil War, and help them understand how its outcome continues to impact their lives to this day.
