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While there was combat on several parts of the Gettysburg battlefield on July 3, 1863, the best remembered battle action of that third and final day of the Battle of Gettysburg was the Confederate assault against the center of the Union battle line known in history as Pickett’s Charge. For the participants in the ranks, from general on down to private, this battle action was a costly and frightening experience, during which there were many examples of courage, fear, and sacrifice. For the civilians whose property stood where the attack took place, the combat was especially destructive. And for the veterans, preservationists, and historians, who all helped craft the history of the Battle of Gettysburg, Pickett’s Charge became a defining landmark event in the history of the Civil War.
Theme:
Looking at the battle action known as Pickett's Charge on July 3, 1863 from multiple perspectives -- of United States soldiers, Confederate soldiers, Gettysburg civilians, as well as how later generations (including us) remember it—helps us to gain not only a better understanding of this pivotal event in American History but also an understanding of the difference between history and memory while further sharpening critical thinking skills.
Goals:
The goals of the Reverse Pickett’s Charge Student Education Program are to: personalize the story of the third day of the battle of Gettysburg through assigned student identities; examine the many consequences of the July 3, 1863, attack known as Pickett’s Charge on soldiers and civilians alike; introduce the concepts of remembrance and historical memory; and to bring the now quiet fields of Gettysburg to life while walking the historic landscape of Cemetery Ridge and the fields of Pickett’s Charge.
Objectives:
After participating in the Reverse Pickett’s Charge student education program at Gettysburg National Military Park, students will be able to:
label the lines of battle on a map and explain the military strategy and tactics of both the Union and Confederate armies on July 3, 1863, at Gettysburg;
tell the story of Pickett's Charge from the perspective of at least two different individuals as outlined on identity cards and after standing in their footsteps during the Gettysburg field trip;
Explain the difference between history and memory through the monumentation on the Gettysburg battlefields, and apply those differences to another historical event;
Identify at least one action they can take as individuals and as a class to demonstrate their role as stewards of the land and to understand the importance of preserving Gettysburg National Military Park.
Pre-Visit Activity:
Identities of Soldiers, Civilians, and Historians/Preservationists:
Email usto request identity cards for this field trip program.
Grade Level and Program Options
This program can be tailored to grades 4-12. Please allow 90 minutes for this field trip option. 15 Students minimum/45 students maximum per program. Multiple programs may run concurrently to accommodate large groups.
