Lesson 4: The South Secedes
Goals and Objectives
Using primary source worksheets, students will be able to use the inauguration speeches of Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis to draw conclusions about the state of the nation in 1861.
California Content Standards
8.10 Students analyze the multiple causes, key events, and complex consequences of the Civil War.
Lesson Introduction
Students will do an image analysis of a political cartoon printed in Vanity Fair four days after Abraham Lincoln won the election in 1860. The teacher will guide students in their observations of the image by asking leading questions. She will the explain how text can be examined like an image in order to draw conclusions about the past.
Vocabulary
New vocabulary will be added to the foldable created at the beginning of the unit.
Primary Source
Secession
Primary Source
Secession
Content Delivery
Content will be delivered through a short discussion of Primary sources and their importance in history.
Student Engagement and Critical Thinking
Students will complete a Primary Source Analysis Worksheet on an excerpt from Abraham Lincoln's and Jefferson Davis' Inaugural Addresses in 1861. Both speeches can be found in the text, pp. 560-561. This will be completed as a partner activity where each student will examine one of the speeches and then share their results with their partner. Once the worksheets are completed, the students will create a political poster for each President arguing for or against secession. These posters will be used in a subsequent lesson.
Demonstrated Learning
Students will turn in 2 seperate Primary Source Analysis Worksheets to be graded by the teacher.
The teacher will progress monitor student learning by walking around, observing students, and answering any questions.
The teacher will progress monitor student learning by walking around, observing students, and answering any questions.
Lesson Closure
Students will do a one paragraph quick write on the differences between the two speeches. They must list at least two differences and explain why they are important in the coming of the Civil War.
Accommodations
Partneres Activity
Use of Visuals
Leading Questions
Use of Visuals
Leading Questions
What Came Before...
Students learned about early attempts to abolish slavery, the New Abolitionists, and the Underground
Railroad. Students also learned about the concept of freedom.
Railroad. Students also learned about the concept of freedom.
What Came After...
Students will broaden their understanding of Northern and Southern points of view regarding secession and war by participating in a class debate.