1.  John Jr and Yuēhàn was excited for their family trip to Gettysburg battlefield.  Before packing their suitcases, John Jr and Yuēhàn looked at some history books to have a better understanding of how Gettysburg battlefield was so important.
2.  John Jr gave Yuēhàn some history about the Civil War.  The American Civil War was a war between the Union (Northern US States) and the Confederacy (Southern US States) that lasted from 1861-1865. The war was fought over disagreements about slavery, states vs. federal rights, the election of Abraham Lincoln, and the economy. 
3.  John Jr found some information on the battle of Gettysburg.  The Battle of Gettysburg was a three-day battle fought between Union and Confederate forces between July 1 and July 3, 1863, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle, which was won by the Union, is widely considered the Civil War's turning point, ending the Confederacy's aspirations to establish an independent nation. It was the Civil War's bloodiest battle, claiming over 50,000 combined casualties over three days.
4.  Yuēhàn found some information of the final battle and shared it with John Jr.  The Battle of Palmito Ranch took place on May 12–13, 1865, near the Rio Grande in Cameron County, Texas. The battle was fought between Confederate forces under Col. John S. “Rip” Ford and Union forces under Col. Theodore H. Barrett. The battle resulted in a Confederate victory. 
5.  John. Jr and Yuēhàn finished packing and loaded up the car.  They had a wonderful time in Gettysburg and even saw a Civil War reenactment.

The Civil War 

John Jr sitting on the living room floor, flipping through a history book with pictures of Gettysburg battlefield.

John Jr and Yuēhàn were excited for their family trip to Gettysburg battlefield. Before packing their suitcases, they looked at some history books. They wanted to understand how Gettysburg battlefield was so important. They sat together on the living room floor, flipping through pages and pointing at pictures.

Preparing for the Trip

John Jr explaining history to Yuēhàn, with an open book showing Civil War images.

John Jr gave Yuēhàn some history about the Civil War. The American Civil War was a war between the Union and the Confederacy. It lasted from 1861 to 1865. The war was fought over disagreements about slavery, states vs. federal rights, and the economy.

Learning About the Civil War

John Jr looking at a book with an illustration of the Battle of Gettysburg.

John Jr found some information on the Battle of Gettysburg. The Battle of Gettysburg was a three-day battle fought between Union and Confederate forces. It took place between July 1 and July 3, 1863, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle was won by the Union and is considered the Civil War's turning point.

The Battle of Gettysburg

John Jr reading intently, with a look of amazement on his face, surrounded by books.

John Jr continued reading about the Battle of Gettysburg. It was the Civil War's bloodiest battle, with over 50,000 combined casualties. The battle ended the Confederacy's aspirations to establish an independent nation. John Jr was amazed at how important this battle was.

A Turning Point

Yuēhàn looking at a book with an illustration of the Battle of Palmito Ranch.

Yuēhàn found some information about the final battle of the Civil War. It was called the Battle of Palmito Ranch. The battle took place on May 12-13, 1865, near the Rio Grande in Texas. It was fought between Confederate forces and Union forces.

The Final Battle

Yuēhàn sharing a book with John Jr, both looking fascinated.

Yuēhàn shared the information with John Jr. The Battle of Palmito Ranch resulted in a Confederate victory. This was surprising because the war had already ended. John Jr and Yuēhàn were fascinated by this piece of history.

A Confederate Victory

John Jr and Yuēhàn packing their suitcases, with a car in the background.

John Jr and Yuēhàn finished packing their suitcases. They were excited for their trip to Gettysburg. They loaded up the car with their bags. Their parents made sure they had everything they needed for the trip.

Packing for the Trip

John Jr and Yuēhàn watching a Civil War reenactment with excitement on their faces.

John Jr and Yuēhàn had a wonderful time in Gettysburg. They even saw a Civil War reenactment. It was like stepping back in time. They learned so much and had fun too. They couldn’t wait to tell their friends all about it.