This is a research essay project. It will allow students to discover the parallels between the American Civil War and the fictional story of Ben-Hur. The project can be completed after reading the original novel by Lew Wallace, or after watching either version of the film (I typically use the 2016 film to accompanying our Civil War unit). For the essay, students must choose three parallels between the story and the Civil War (such as slavery, a nation divided, forgiveness, etc.), explain how tho