Shared Struggles Answer Key

In this worksheet, students read two historical excerpts: one from a Civil War soldier and one from a civilian woman in Gettysburg. They compare the tone, point of view, and emotional experiences described in both texts. A comparison chart guides students in identifying similarities and differences in the two perspectives. Reflection questions help them analyze how personal narratives shape historical understanding. The activity deepens empathy by showing how war affects people differently depending on their roles. It also strengthens students’ ability to interpret firsthand accounts and evaluate their reliability. Through comparison, learners develop skills in sourcing and corroborating historical documents.

Curriculum Matched Skills

Social Studies – Multiple Perspectives in History

English Language Arts – Comparing and Contrasting Texts

Social Studies – Civil War Social History

English Language Arts – Point of View and Tone Analysis

This worksheet is part of our historical text worksheets collection.