1. Social Studies Lesson Power Point Laura G. Sarah T. Sheena S. ED 639
The Civil War
Social Studies Lesson Power Point
Laura G. Sarah T. Sheena S.
ED 639

2. The Civil War- Factors Leading Up to the War
8th grade American History

3. Objectives At the completion of this lesson, students will be able to:
recognize the political, economic, geographic, and social factors that influenced the outbreak of war
Identify and define the major events/acts

4. Materials Textbook Atlas
Handouts-maps, court materials, political cartoons
Colored pencils
Note-taking materials

5. The American Civil War Page
Useful Websites
The History Place
Civilwar.com
American Civil War
The Civil War
The American Civil War Page

6. Economic Issues Tariffs, Tariffs, Tariffs
A tariff is a tax paid on imports
Hurt South because it raised the price of goods that they had to buy; Protected North because they could make their own goods and made it easier to compete with foreign goods
South was paying almost 87% of tariff revenue while abolitionists were attacking their way of life.
How would this make you feel?
Tariff of Abomination-1828, was revised in 1833 under threat of secession

7. Secession and Nullification
Idea 1st appeared during War of 1812 when New Englanders were upset with the war
The 1828 Tariff was viewed as unfair and threatening to the South
VP John C. Calhoun wrote “The South Carolina Exposition and Protest” advocating the right to nullify federal laws –South Carolina followed his advice
Andrew Jackson managed to avoid a war during the Nullification Crisis by allowing a reduced tariff to be passed
Key issue was about states’ rights

8. The Issue of Slavery and Expansion
The Constitution failed to end slavery
It gave South an advantage in House and the Presidency with the 3/5 clause
Cotton Gin (by Eli Whitney) revived the importance of cotton and therefore slavery
Slavery was an important aspect to the Southern economy- cash crops/plantations
Only 26% of whites in South owned slaves, yet slaves were 1/3-1/2 of the population
Why would non-slave holders support slavery?

9. Abolition
The religious revivals of the 1820’s made ABOLITIONISM an important issue
Believed slavery was evil; wanted to abolish slavery. Used publications (The Liberator), petitions, and more extreme measures to end slavery.
Others:
Free-soilers- wanted to only limit the expansion of slavery
Colonialists- wanted to end slavery and return them back to Africa; advocated by Monroe, Lincoln, and many other politicians and Northerners
What present day country is a result of this idea?

10. Frederick Douglass Runaway Slave
Joined abolitionist movement; was anti-colonization
Was hired by William Lloyd Garrison as a speaker; became world famous
Also supported equal political rights for women
May 1845, 5,000 copies of his book Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave were published
1847 published own paper North Star in Rochester, NY
During Civil War, served as advisor to Lincoln
What made Douglass so famous and so controversial?

11. The Missouri Compromise
Created by Henry Clay
Admitted Missouri as a slave state (1821), Maine as a free state (1820); Kept the balance; Created free/slave line at 36’30°N in hopes of resolving future issues
Western expansion was the desire and fear of both sides
New states would create an imbalance in Congress
Made the imbalance of states and slavery a major issue in the political arena

12. The Compromise of 1850
Collection of 5 compromises created by Henry Clay as a way to keep the Union together following the acquisition of territory from the Mexican War
Texas would relinquish the disputed land (for $10 million to pay off its debt to Mexico)
NM, NV, UT, & AZ would be added without mentioning slavery
Slave trade would be abolished in DC (slavery would still be legal)
California would be a free state
Fugitive Slave Law would be enacted

13. Compromise of 1850 Kept the Union together for another decade, but…
The Fugitive Slave Law was the most controversial of the acts
It required citizens to aid in the recovery of fugitive slaves and denied fugitives to a trial by jury
Abolitionists resolved to end slavery immediately

14. The Kansas-Nebraska Act
Passed by Congress on May 30, 1854; allowed the people of Kansas and Nebraska to decide whether they would be free or slave
Repealed the Missouri Compromise since the states were north of the 36’30°N line
Upset many Northerners who saw line as a permanent agreement; was supported by many Southerners as a way of expanding slavery and political support

15. Aftermath of K-N Act: Bloody Kansas
Both pro- and anti-slavery settlers rushed to Kansas to affect the vote
Pro-slavery won out, but the election was seen as fraudulent; another anti-slavery election was held- Result? 2 legislatures!
Violence erupted, led by John Brown
President Pierce sent troops to stop the violence; another election was held, but it too was charged with fraud and Congress refused to recognize Kansas as a state (until 1861 as a free state)

16. John Brown Raised in North by deeply religious, radical abolitionists
Met Frederick Douglas in 1847
Waged a war against those who supported slavery in Kansas
On Oct. 16,1859, he led 21 other men on an assault against Harper’s Ferry, a federal arsenal.
Was put down by Federal troops led by Lee
He was tried of treason and executed
Seen as a martyr for the abolitionist cause and a major threat to Southerners (and many Northerners)
List some reasons why both Southerners and Northerners would be opposed to abolition.

17. Dred-Scott Decision-1857
Dred Scott was a slave who lived in Illinois and Wisconsin (free states), then was moved back to Missouri (a slave state)
He appealed to the Supreme Court in hopes to gain his freedom
Court ruled that Scott was black, therefore not a citizen and had no right to sue and should be treated as property
This ruling incited abolitionists; however, Douglass believed the decision would bring to light the issue of slavery and its eventual downfall

18. Student Activities
1. Write a persuasive letter for war from the viewpoint of a Southerner or a Northerner
1-2 pages in length
Use at least 3 of the discussed factors to create your argument

19. 2. Complete a Map Activity and Answer the Questions
On the map:
Identify the territories and the new states that were added and when
identify the states that remained in the Union
the border states
the states that seceded
with the dates of secession

20. 3. Analyze the political cartoons.
What do the cartoons mean?
Who is the intended audience?
Compare with a modern political cartoon. What are the similarities? Differences?

21. 4. Divide into 2 groups, 1 a defense team and 1 a prosecuting team
4. Divide into 2 groups, 1 a defense team and 1 a prosecuting team. Recreate the trial of Dred Scott using the arguments of the historical players and original arguments.

22. 5. Create a timeline of events that helped lead to the eruption of the Civil War in 1861.