Goals and Objectives
Students will learn how the Civil War started in the U.S. Students will trace the rise in sectionalism in the U.S. Students will analyze the motives and war aims of each side of the war.
California State Content and Common Core Standards
8.10 Students analyze the multiple causes, key events, and complex consequences of the Civil War.
8.10.1 Compare the conflicting interpretations of state and federal authority as emphasized in the speeches and writings of statesmen such as Daniel Webster and John C. Calhoun.
8.10.3 Identify the constitutional issues posed by the doctrine of nullification and secession and the earliest origins of that doctrine.
CCSC H-SS Writing 6-8.1 Write arguments focused on discipline-specific content.
CCSC H-SS Writing 6-8.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
8.10.1 Compare the conflicting interpretations of state and federal authority as emphasized in the speeches and writings of statesmen such as Daniel Webster and John C. Calhoun.
8.10.3 Identify the constitutional issues posed by the doctrine of nullification and secession and the earliest origins of that doctrine.
CCSC H-SS Writing 6-8.1 Write arguments focused on discipline-specific content.
CCSC H-SS Writing 6-8.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
Lesson Introduction
The class will have a short discussion about secession. The teacher will explain that it means to break away from a group because they are trying to force you to do something that you do not want to do. The students will brainstorm situations when they think such action is or is not acceptable.
Vocabulary
The vocabulary will be reinforced through the guided notes. The key terms for this lesson will include:
- Secession
- Nullification
- Daniel Webster
- John C. Calhoun
- Stephen Douglas
- John C. Breckinridge
- Abraham Lincoln
- John Bell
- Jefferson Davis
- Union
- Confederacy
- Fort Sumter
Content Delivery
The teacher will deliver a lecture presentation on the events leading up to the U.S. Civil War. The lecture will discuss how the issue of slavery divided the nation and became a source of argument regarding federal vs. state power. The Election of 1860 and its results will be discussed. The lecture will end with the formation of the Confederacy and the Battle of Fort Sumter. Guided notes will accompany the lecture.
Student Engagement
Students will use their guided notes to record information during the lecture. Questions will be incorporated into the guided notes, and students will be given the opportunity to discuss some of these questions with a partner at key points in the lecture. Students will also color in a map based on the election results.
Lesson Closure
Students will write in their journals about what they think was the primary cause of the Civil War. They will explain why they believe in their position and will identify the person/argument that most influenced their decision.
Assessment
Formative: During the lesson, the teacher will stop the lecture and ask questions of the class to check for comprehension and understanding. During partner discussions, the teacher will walk around the room and listen to the conversations, keeping students on task and guiding them if they seem to be having difficulty.
Summative: The teacher will read the students’ journal entries to determine if they understand the concepts and points of view presented in the lesson.
Summative: The teacher will read the students’ journal entries to determine if they understand the concepts and points of view presented in the lesson.
Accommodations for English Learners, Striving Readers, and Students with Special Needs
The guided notes will serve as a scaffold for English Learners, striving readers, and students with special needs. ELs will also be provided with the key vocabulary in their L1s when appropriate.