The One
The United States finally found "the one" nearly three years after the first shots of the Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter. Finally, it had a military leader capable of guiding the massive Army of the Potomac to vicotory. "The one" was Ulysses S. Grant. There were many reasons why he could be considered "the one." This essay requires students to discover and elaborate on those reasons.
 
Lesson:

Lesson Plan: Ulysses S. Grant – The One Who Won the War

1. Warm-Up Discussion (10 minutes)

Prompt: “Imagine you're a Union general during the Civil War. You’ve been fighting for years with no end in sight. What kind of leader would you want to follow into battle?”

Activity: Write student responses on the board (e.g., bold, strategic, calm, determined). Introduce Ulysses S. Grant as someone who became “The One” who delivered Union victory.

2. Mini-Lecture or Reading (10–15 minutes)

Share a brief biography of Grant, emphasizing:

  • His early failures and humble background
  • Successes at Fort Donelson, Vicksburg, and Chattanooga
  • Appointment as general-in-chief
  • Lee’s surrender at Appomattox
  • His legacy

Optionally, display or distribute a simplified biography handout.

3. Group Discussion (10 minutes)

Guiding Questions:

  • What made Grant different from other Union generals?
  • Why was his leadership so important during the final years of the war?
  • Do you think anyone else could have done what Grant did?

4. Writing Activity (15–20 minutes)

Title: Ulysses S. Grant: The One Who Won the War

Prompt: Write a short essay or paragraph arguing why Ulysses S. Grant was the one man who could lead the Union to victory in the Civil War. Use at least three pieces of historical evidence to support your opinion. You may also mention how his personality or background helped him succeed where others failed.

Optional sentence starters:

  • "While many generals tried and failed..."
  • "One reason Grant was essential to Union victory was..."
  • "Unlike others, Grant..."
Other Options
Reading Groups - This passage serves as an excellent tool for enrichment-based reading groups in language arts or social studies.
Morning Work - The activity takes most students about 20 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.
Whiteboard - Have students come to the whiteboard to annotate important information or to fill in one of the items on the chart.