Childhood Amid the War

Put yourself in the shoes of a child during the Civil War era. Write about their disillusionment, their growth, and lessons learned.

Children are often the most impacted yet overlooked individuals in times of war. How does a child learn to understand the ideas of justice, honor, and freedom when they are surrounded by the horrors of war? This prompt offers the chance to examine a child’s perceptions of the world, growth, innocence, and resilience against the backdrop of the Civil War.