Questions for Classroom Discussion
Prepared by Jack Bareilles
History Teacher, McKinleyville High School, McKinleyville, CA
Lincoln's Final Letter Home
1.
How does the author of the introduction describe this letter from Lincoln to Mary Todd
Lincoln, his wife?
2.
To whom does Lincoln direct his wife to copy the letter?
3.
The author says this letter demonstrates what about Lincoln's role in the Civil War?
4.
About what battle was Lincoln reporting to his wife?
5.
What upcoming event did Lincoln tell his wife about?
6.
What happened just two days after Lincoln wrote this letter?
The Document
7.
Where is Lincoln when he writes this letter?
8.
On what date did he write to his wife?
9.
What information had General Grant telegraphed the previous night?
10.
What had General Grant ordered that morning?
11.
According to General Grant's telegraph of that morning, which two Union commanders
had broken through Confederate lines?
12.
What is General Grant's term to describe the overall situation?
13.
How does Lincoln sign his letter?
Other Questions
14.
What modern form of communication does Lincoln's letter read like?
15.
When you write a letter, on paper with a pen or pencil, how does it compare to this letter
from Abraham Lincoln to Mary Todd Lincoln?
16.
Does Lincoln write anything in this letter that is personal?
17.
Why do you think Lincoln wrote this letter in this style and asked his wife to copy it to
the Secretary of War?
18.
How does Lincoln sign his letter? Do you think your parents or grandparents would sign
a letter to each other in this way?
