Wanted! A Good Union General

This is a fun activity that describes the deficiencies of the five commanders Lincoln appointed as Commanders of the Army of the Potomac. Students are required to craft a "Wanted" posted for an effective Union General and to describe the necessary qualities needed for such an important position.
 
Lesson:

1. Hook: Lincoln’s Leadership Struggle (5–10 minutes)

Start with a quote from Abraham Lincoln: “If General McClellan does not want to use the army, I would like to borrow it for a while.”
Ask students:

  • What do you think Lincoln meant by this?
  • Why would it be so hard to find a good general in wartime?
Briefly explain that Lincoln went through **five commanders** before finally settling on Ulysses S. Grant.

2. Mini-Lesson: The Struggles of Union Commanders (10–15 minutes)

Present short captions (written or projected) summarizing each general’s failures. For example:

  • Irvin McDowell: Rushed into battle at Bull Run and was completely unprepared.
  • George B. McClellan: Overcautious and refused to attack even with superior numbers.
  • Ambrose Burnside: Led the disastrous assault at Fredericksburg with no backup plan.
  • Joseph Hooker: Outmaneuvered at Chancellorsville and refused to take responsibility.
  • George Meade: Won at Gettysburg but failed to pursue Lee afterward.
As you discuss each, have students jot down traits of **ineffective leadership** (e.g., indecision, arrogance, poor planning, etc.).

3. Creative Activity: The WANTED Poster (25–30 minutes)

Distribute or display the WANTED poster template. Explain the assignment:

  • Create a WANTED poster for a new Union general.
  • Use what you’ve learned about ineffective generals to design a list of traits the new general MUST have.
  • Include a job title (e.g., “Commander of the Army of the Potomac”), a short description of responsibilities, and 4–5 traits of effective leadership (e.g., brave, strategic, decisive, humble, etc.).
  • Add a sketch or image if time permits—this could be realistic or humorous!
Students may work individually or in pairs. Encourage thoughtful traits based on the history discussed.

4. Sharing and Reflection (10–15 minutes)

Invite students to display or present their posters. Ask:

  • What traits came up most often?
  • Why do you think Lincoln had such trouble finding the right general?
  • Would any of these early generals have succeeded under different circumstances?
Conclude by tying the activity to the eventual success of Grant and how he met many of the “wanted” traits.

Other Uses:
Morning Work - The activity takes most students about 30 minutes to complete, making it an ideal solution for morning work.
Homework - This activity is a great way to assign homework in social studies or language arts.
Share - Have students share their responses with classmates or, in small groups.