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Causes of the American Civil War_Nation


Michelle Nation


The American Civil War_Nation


This lesson provides a snapshot look at the causes of and events leading up to the American Civil War. It involves students on visual, auditory, and kinesthetic levels. Activities include a visual activity with dominoes, video, fill-in-the-blank notes, reading passages by Abraham Lincoln and Harriet Beecher Stowe, a review matching activity, and crossword puzzle.



90 Minutes


1


What key events and issues caused the American Civil War?


Tell students that they should each get three dominoes and make a house.  Each of their houses should have two walls and a roof.  While the students are building their houses, write the following on the board:  "A house divided against itself cannot stand."


Once the students have made their domino houses, tell them to remove the walls without the roof of the house falling down.  This will, of course, be impossible.

Bring their attempts to an end and direct their attention to the quote. Read it aloud:  
"A house divided against itself cannot stand."
Ask/discuss the following:
·        What does the quote mean?
·        How did the domino activity demonstrate the quote?
Tell the students the quote is from the Bible and that Abraham Lincoln used it in a famous speech he made in 1858. Ask students to identify Abraham Lincoln. (For additional information, see website listed in Materials.) Someone will probably answer and associate him with the Civil War. 
Ask students if they know what caused the American Civil War. Tell students that they will be taking a look at some of the key events and issues that caused the war.


  1. Distribute the “I Have…Who Has” cards. Tell students they are going to watch a video about the causes of the Civil War. Tell them that while they are watching the video, they should be paying close attention and listening for parts that include what is written on their cards.
  2. Show the 14-minute video, “Causes of the Civil War”, which can be streamed or downloaded from http://www.unitedstreaming.com/. (For teachers who do not have access to United Streaming:  Select a similar video.)
  3. When the video is finished, complete the “I Have…Who Has” activity, following the instructions at the beginning of the cards link. The cards may be on copy paper, construction paper, or card stock. One suggestion is to laminate the cards or cover them with clear contact paper ahead of time to preserve their use with future classes.
  4. Complete the note-taking activity. As a class, fill in the blanks on the outline on the causes of the civil war.
  5. Review who wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin and what the book is about. Give students handouts containing a passage from the book. Read the passage aloud and discuss what was read.
·        A suggestion is to read from Chapter V, “Showing the Feelings of Living Property on Changing Owners.” If using the Library of America edition containing Stowe’s three novels, pages 45-49 would be a good selection. The chapter can also be found at http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/utc/uncletom/utfihbsa5t.html. If using the link, the beginning of the chapter through the number 60 corresponds to the pages of the LOA book.
·        Ask students how they felt as the passage was read. Talk about the views of each of the people in the story and their perspectives on things. Discuss how the book may have been received by Northerners, by Southerners, and by Europeans who read it during the years just before and during the Civil War.
  1. Refer once again to the quote on the board. Give students handouts containing a passage from Lincoln’s “House Divided” speech. One location of the speech is in the LOA volume of Lincoln’s speeches and writings from 1832-1858, on page 426. Another location is http://www.historyplace.com/lincoln/divided.htm  .
·        Read the first part of the speech, stopping after the line, “old as well as new—North as well as South.”
·        Discuss whether students agree or disagree with what Lincoln said.
·        Name the two walls of the house from the dominoes activity: the North and the South.
·        Name the roof: The United States of America.
  1. Briefly review material learned during the lesson with a short question and answer session.
  2. As time allows, or for homework, have students complete the crossword puzzle.


Have students list what they feel are the most significant causes and events leading to the Civil War.  Then students should prioritize them in order of importance and include rationale.


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I Have_Who Has _LP1 Nations
Crossword Puzzle_Civil War_LP1 Nations
Causes of the Civil War Outline_LP1 Nation
Causes of the Civil War Outline Key_LP1 Nation

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