California in the Civil War

Designed for Grades 4 and Above

Price: $8.00 Per Student +$25.00 Non-Refundable Deposit

Overview: California in the Civil War explores the social, political, and economic history of the state and its relationship to the onset of the American Civil War. The program is designed to answer questions related to who, what, when, where, and why California played a part in the predominantly eastern conflict, and how it’s related to the formation of the state. The program touches on the defenses of San Francisco Bay and the part the Benicia Arsenal played in the 1850s and 60s.

Hands-on History: California in the Civil War Core Program is designed to work with either The Signal Corps — Talking Flags or Defending the Bay.

The Signal Corps was the newest branch of the Army in the 1860s. Learn about the history behind its development and use before and during the American Civil War. Find out its connections to the Benicia Arsenal and more. Students will learn Myer’s two element code, create their own cipher disks, and practice sending and receiving their own encoded messages.

Defending the Bay is an in-depth study of the Civil War defenses of San Francisco Bay. Students will learn about the possible threats seen as a potential naval invasion of the bay. They will look at the development of those defenses from a tactical perspective as they study Fort Point, Angel Island, Alcatraz. and the Benicia Arsenal.