1. How did the Civil War
affect relationships?

2. Write the name of the person…
you are closest to.
you would do absolutely anything for, no hesitation, & no questions asked.
who knows all of your secrets and has told you all his/hers.
your life would be incomplete without.
you would want to go into battle with.
you would trust with anything, even your life.
you would never want to hurt, regardless of the consequences for you.

3. Now pick just one…
If you were thinking of multiple people (like I was), you have to settle on one.
I’m not showing you who I’d choose.

4. You are a soldier in the Civil War
You grew up in a border state.
You made your choice: Union or Confederate.

5. You are a soldier in the Civil War
You have left everything behind to volunteer for your army.
You know you are doing the right thing.
You are staying true to your beliefs and convictions; you are unshakable.
You are right, there is no question about it; no one can convince you otherwise.
Compromise did not work, it is time for blood.

6. Ready for Battle You have survived training.
Your heart and soul have made peace. You are ready to die in battle defending your beliefs, your home, and your friends (fellow soldiers).
You bravely follow your fearless leaders into battle.

7. THE BATTLE Bullets whiz past you.
Agonizing screams invade your ears as friends are shot around you.
Bravely, you keep marching forward.
The distance between you and your enemy is shrinking; you will soon be in close combat. You are preparing to take someone’s life. This is war; it is defense and survival.
The rebel yell fills your ears and heart as you race closer.
Suddenly your body freezes.

8. THE BATTLE
You try to process what you are seeing: that special person you cannot live without and you would do anything for!
(For our purposes girls/women can be soldiers!)
You have not seen him/her since you left home to volunteer!
You had no idea he/she joined the other side!

9. Later that Night
As you sit in your tent after the day’s battle you realize 3 things
You’re alive – you survived and were not killed by anyone (including yourself)
You came face-to-face with the person you love and trust and care about the most in battle.
He/she believed the complete opposite of everything you do and thought he/she did.
You take out your journal and begin to write to try to process what happened

10. Reaction and Aftermath
How did you feel when you realized the person you love and trust and care about the most believes the complete opposite of everything you do?
What thoughts went through your mind?
What did you say?
What happened next?
What did you do?
What did he/she do and/or say?
How do you feel about what you did?
Would your frienemy have done the same? Why or why not?
How will your parents and friends back home react?
How will your fellow soldiers react?
How will your leaders react?