Causes of the Civil War

How did regional differences over slavery lead to sectionalism and the Civil War?  

Learning Objectives  

• I can analyze and discuss primary sources. 
• I can annotate a document to identify important vocabulary. 
• I can create mock newspaper articles and comics.  
• I can read tables and maps to find facts and details about a topic. 

Content Objectives 

• I can describe the economic, social, and political differences between the North and South prior to the Civil War.  
• I can explain how differences led to sectionalism in the mid-1800s.  
• I can describe the experiences of enslaved people.  
• I can explain how enslavement denied individuals liberty and natural rights. 
• I can identify the candidates in the election of 1860, describe their views, and explain why people supported them. 
• I can describe the outcome of the election of 1860. 

Teacher Resources

• Vocabulary Cards 
• Teacher Slide Deck 
• Handout H Answer Key 
• Teacher Prep Resources 
• Annotation Bookmarks

Student Resources

• Handout A: Vocabulary Word Study 
• Handout B: Sectionalism Vocabulary Annotation Activity 
• Handout Set C: Experiences of Enslaved People Primary Sources 
• Handout D: Talk, Read, Talk, Write: On Liberty and Slavery 
• Handout E: Lesson Reading 
• Handout Set F: Causes of the Civil War Stations 
• Handout G: Student Stations Handout 
• Handout H: Election of 1860 Tables and Map Activity 
• Handout I: Election of 1860 Newspapers 
• Handout J: Newspaper Article Organizer 
• Handout K: Newspaper Assignment Sheet 
• Handout L: Newspaper Templates 
• Handout M: Student Self-Assessment 

This lesson is designed around inquiry questions. There is one essential question, and several guiding questions around which the content is based. The lesson takes place in 5 stages:  

• Anticipate- Students build background knowledge needed to be successful in the lesson. 
• Engage- Students are “hooked” into the lesson. 
• Explore- Students grapple with the main content of the unit (usually 2-3 parts). 
• Assess- Students demonstrate their knowledge through a performance assessment. 
• Reflect- Students reflect on their learning in the lesson. 
• The sections below provide a brief overview of the unit’s structure. It offers a snapshot of the organization and flow of the entire unit. 

The following detailed sections break down the five stages of the lesson. Each stage is discussed thoroughly with actionable steps to guide you through the teaching process effectively.