Divided Nation, United Future? - Teacher Script

Introduction & Warm-Up: What Divides Us? (10 minutes)

(Slide 1: Divided Nation, United Future? - Title Slide)

"Good morning/afternoon everyone! Today, we're going to dive into a truly pivotal, and at times, difficult period in American history: the United States Civil War. Before we jump into the past, let's think a bit about the present.

What are some things that can cause big disagreements between people, or even groups of people? Think about arguments you've had with friends, family, or even debates you see happening in the news or on social media. What are the root causes of those divisions?"

Allow students to share thoughts, guiding them toward ideas like differing beliefs, economic disparities, power struggles, or moral disagreements.

"That's right. Disagreements, especially big ones, often come from deeply held beliefs, different ways of life, or conflicts over resources and power. Today, we'll explore a time when these kinds of disagreements tore our own country apart, leading to a war where Americans fought against Americans. We're going to investigate the causes and the initial events of the American Civil War, a conflict that shaped the very foundation of our nation."

(Slide 2: Learning Objectives)

"By the end of our lesson today, you should be able to: identify the major causes of the U.S. Civil War, describe some key events and figures that led up to the war, and explain the initial impact of the conflict on the nation."

Exploring the Causes of Conflict (25 minutes)

(Slide 3: Cause 1: Slavery)

"Let's start with what many historians agree was the most significant underlying cause of the Civil War: slavery. Slavery was a deeply rooted institution, especially in the Southern states. In the South, their entire economic system depended heavily on enslaved labor to cultivate cash crops like cotton, tobacco, and sugar. It was incredibly profitable for plantation owners, but it was built on the forced labor and dehumanization of millions of African people.

In the North, while not entirely free of racial prejudice, there was a growing movement, known as abolitionism, that actively campaigned for the end of slavery. For abolitionists, slavery wasn't just an economic or political issue; it was a fundamental moral wrong, a violation of basic human rights. This created a profound moral divide across the country.

Turn to your partner for a moment. How might such a fundamental moral difference, especially one tied to an economic system, create unavoidable conflict?"

Allow 1-2 minutes for discussion, then bring the class back.

(Slide 4: Cause 2: States' Rights)

"Another major cause was the debate over states' rights. This was the idea that individual states should have more power and authority than the federal, or national, government. For decades, there had been ongoing arguments about how much power the federal government should have versus the power reserved for the states.

These debates often centered on issues like tariffs – taxes on imported goods – or internal improvements, like roads and canals. But the biggest and most contentious issue where states' rights came into play was the expansion of slavery. Southern states believed they had the right to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery within their borders, and whether slavery could expand into new territories. Northern states, and the federal government at times, disagreed.

We even saw this tension play out in the Nullification Crisis, where South Carolina argued it could nullify, or ignore, a federal tariff law it didn't like. This really highlighted the deep disagreements about where ultimate authority lay: with the states or with the federal government."

(Slide 5: Cause 3: Economic Differences)

"Hand-in-hand with slavery and states' rights were significant economic differences between the North and the South. The North was rapidly industrializing. It had factories, a growing network of railroads, and relied on wage labor. Their economy was diverse, focusing on manufacturing and trade.

In contrast, the South remained largely agrarian, meaning its economy was based on agriculture, specifically large-scale plantations using enslaved labor. They relied heavily on exporting raw materials, especially cotton, to places like Great Britain.

These different economies led to different political priorities. For example, Northern industrialists often favored high tariffs to protect their growing industries from foreign competition. Southern planters, however, opposed tariffs because they made imported goods more expensive and worried about retaliation from countries buying their cotton. Both sides wanted to protect their economic interests, and this often put them in direct opposition in Congress."

(Slide 6: Cause 4: Failed Compromises)

"For decades leading up to the war, politicians tried desperately to find compromises to keep the nation together and avoid conflict over slavery. We saw attempts like the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which tried to draw a clear line for where slavery could and could not expand into new territories.

Later, the Compromise of 1850 included several measures, notably the Fugitive Slave Act, which was deeply unpopular in the North because it required citizens to assist in capturing runaway enslaved people. And then there was the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, which introduced the idea of 'popular sovereignty,' allowing settlers in new territories to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery. This led to violent clashes in Kansas, earning it the nickname 'Bleeding Kansas,' as pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces battled it out.

Ultimately, these compromises were only temporary fixes. They kicked the can down the road, and the underlying issues continued to fester, proving that the fundamental differences were too great to be resolved through political bargaining alone."

(Slide 7: The Road to War: Boiling Point)

"So, to recap, these deep-seated issues created an irreparable divide in the United States:

1. Slavery: The moral and economic backbone of the South versus the growing abolitionist movement in the North.
2. States' Rights: The ongoing debate about federal versus state power, often tied to slavery.
3. Economic Differences: Industrial North versus agrarian South, leading to conflicting interests.
4. Failed Political Compromises: Attempts to avoid conflict that ultimately only delayed the inevitable.

These tensions were building for decades, creating a powder keg ready to ignite."

Key Events & Figures (Part 1) (20 minutes)

(Slide 8: Key Event: The Election of 1860)

"The election of 1860 was the spark that lit that powder keg. Abraham Lincoln, a Republican, was elected president. The Republican Party had a platform that opposed the expansion of slavery into new territories. Although Lincoln himself was not an abolitionist at this point, many Southern states viewed his election as a direct threat to their way of life and the institution of slavery.

Feeling their voices weren't being heard and their interests were no longer represented, secession began. South Carolina was the first state to formally withdraw from the Union in December of 1860. Others soon followed."

(Slide 9: The Nation Divides)

"As more Southern states seceded, they formed their own government, calling themselves the Confederate States of America, or the Confederacy. They elected Jefferson Davis as their president. So, by early 1861, the United States was effectively split into two distinct entities: the Union (the United States government in the North) and the Confederacy (the newly formed government of the Southern states)."

(Slide 10: The Spark: Fort Sumter (April 1861))

"The actual beginning of hostilities, the first shots of the Civil War, occurred in April 1861 at Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. Fort Sumter was a Union fort in Confederate territory. When Confederate forces attacked it, President Lincoln responded by calling for 75,000 volunteers to suppress the rebellion.

This call for troops pushed more states to make a choice. Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee, who had been on the fence, also seceded and joined the Confederacy. This solidified the two sides for the devastating conflict ahead."

(Slide 11: Union vs. Confederacy: Initial Strategies)

"Both sides had initial strategies. The Union, or the North, developed what became known as the Anaconda Plan. It aimed to blockade Southern ports to cut off their trade and control the Mississippi River to split the Confederacy in two. The Union had a larger population, more industrial capacity for making weapons and supplies, and an established government.

The Confederacy, the South, primarily aimed for a defensive war. They wanted to protect their territory, inflict enough casualties on the Union to make them give up, and hoped to gain recognition and aid from European powers like Great Britain and France. They had the advantage of fighting on their home ground and initially had many strong military leaders."

(Slide 12: Early Battle: First Bull Run (Manassas) - July 1861)

"Just a few months after Fort Sumter, the first major land battle took place at the First Battle of Bull Run, or Manassas, in July 1861. Many people thought the war would be quick, even a picnic to watch! But this battle was a Confederate victory. It showed both sides, and the nation, that this war would not be quick, easy, or bloodless. It was a stark wake-up call and boosted Southern morale while shocking the North into realizing the severity of the conflict."

Activity: Civil War Causes Worksheet (20 minutes)

"Now that we've covered the main causes and some initial events, you're going to work on a Civil War Causes Worksheet. This worksheet will ask you to summarize the major causes we discussed – slavery, states' rights, economic differences, and failed compromises – and connect them to why the war started. You'll also define some of the key terms we introduced in the Civil War Vocabulary list. Work individually, and I'll be walking around to help if you have any questions."

Circulate and provide support. If time allows, briefly review answers with the Civil War Causes Worksheet Answer Key.

Conclusion & Cool-Down: Uniting the Nation (15 minutes)

(Slide 13: Looking Ahead)

"Great work today, everyone. We've taken a critical first step in understanding the American Civil War, focusing on the deep divisions that led to it and its initial spark.

To wrap up, let's have a quick discussion. What was one new thing you learned about the causes of the Civil War today that you didn't know or fully understand before?"

Listen to student responses, affirming and clarifying as needed.

"How do conflicts like the Civil War, even with their tragic consequences, shape a nation's future? What lessons can we learn from such a tumultuous period?"

Encourage thoughtful responses, connecting to the idea of national identity, rights, and overcoming division.

"In our next session, we will delve deeper into the major battles, the turning points, key leaders like Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee, and the eventual end of the war, as well as its immediate aftermath.

For your cool-down or exit ticket today, please take an index card or a small piece of paper. On it, I want you to write one sentence summarizing what you believe was the most important cause of the Civil War. Hand it to me as you leave. Have a great rest of your day!"

Civil War Vocabulary

Directions: As we learn about the Civil War, use this sheet to define the key terms. Listen for these words during our lesson and write down their meanings in your own words.

Key Terms:

1. Abolitionism:
   
   
   
   A movement to end slavery.

2. States' Rights:
   
   
   
   The belief that individual states should have more power than the federal government.

3. Tariff:
   
   
   
   A tax imposed on imported goods and services.

4. Compromise:
   
   
   
   An agreement or settlement of a dispute that is reached by each side making concessions.

5. Popular Sovereignty:
   
   
   
   The principle that the authority of a state and its government are created and sustained by the consent of its people, who are the source of all political power (often used in reference to allowing territories to decide on slavery).

6. Secession:
   
   
   
   The formal withdrawal of a state from the Union.

7. Union:
   
   
   
   The northern states that remained loyal to the federal government during the Civil War.

8. Confederacy (Confederate States of America):
   
   
   
   The southern states that seceded from the Union and formed their own government.

9. Fort Sumter:
   
   
   
   A Union fort in Charleston, South Carolina, where the first shots of the Civil War were fired.

10. Anaconda Plan:
    
    
    
    The Union strategy to defeat the Confederacy by blockading Southern ports and controlling the Mississippi River.

11. Bleeding Kansas:
    
    
    
    A series of violent civil confrontations in the Kansas Territory between 1854 and 1859 arising from the debate over the legality of slavery in the proposed state of Kansas.

Civil War Causes Worksheet

Name: ____________________________

Directions: Based on our lesson, answer the following questions to demonstrate your understanding of the causes and early events of the United States Civil War.

Part 1: Defining Key Causes

In your own words, briefly explain each of the following major causes of the Civil War:

1. Slavery:
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. States' Rights:
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Economic Differences (North vs. South):
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. Failed Political Compromises:
   
   
   
   
   
   

Part 2: Connecting Causes to Events

Answer the following questions in complete sentences.

5. How did the Election of 1860 act as a catalyst for Southern states to consider secession?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

6. Explain the significance of Fort Sumter. What happened there, and why is it considered the start of the Civil War?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

7. What was the Anaconda Plan, and what did the Union hope to achieve with it?
   
   
   
   
   
   

8. In what ways did the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the concept of "Popular Sovereignty" contribute to the escalating tensions that led to the Civil War?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Part 3: Reflection

9. Which of the causes discussed (Slavery, States' Rights, Economic Differences, or Failed Political Compromises) do you think was the most important in leading to the Civil War, and why?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Civil War Causes Worksheet Answer Key

Part 1: Defining Key Causes

In your own words, briefly explain each of the following major causes of the Civil War:

1. Slavery: The institution of owning people, primarily African Americans, as property, which was central to the Southern economy and way of life, but seen as morally wrong by a growing movement in the North (abolitionism).

2. States' Rights: The belief that individual states have the authority to make their own decisions and laws, sometimes above the authority of the federal government. This was often invoked by Southern states to defend their right to maintain slavery.

3. Economic Differences (North vs. South): The North had an industrial, manufacturing-based economy with wage labor, while the South had an agrarian, plantation-based economy reliant on enslaved labor. These different economic systems led to conflicting interests regarding issues like tariffs and economic development.

4. Failed Political Compromises: For decades, political leaders tried to create compromises (like the Missouri Compromise, Compromise of 1850, and Kansas-Nebraska Act) to balance the interests of free and slave states, especially regarding the expansion of slavery into new territories. These compromises ultimately failed to resolve the fundamental issues and only delayed the inevitable conflict.

Part 2: Connecting Causes to Events

Answer the following questions in complete sentences.

5. How did the Election of 1860 act as a catalyst for Southern states to consider secession?
   The Election of 1860 was a catalyst because Abraham Lincoln, a Republican who opposed the expansion of slavery, won the presidency without any Southern electoral votes. This led many Southern states to believe that their political power was diminished and that the federal government would soon move to abolish slavery, prompting them to secede from the Union.

6. Explain the significance of Fort Sumter. What happened there, and why is it considered the start of the Civil War?
   Fort Sumter was a Union fort in Charleston, South Carolina, a state that had already seceded. When Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter in April 1861, it marked the first military engagement of the Civil War. President Lincoln's response to call for troops further solidified the division and led more Southern states to secede, officially beginning the armed conflict.

7. What was the Anaconda Plan, and what did the Union hope to achieve with it?
   *The Anaconda Plan was the Union's initial military strategy to defeat the Confederacy. It aimed to blockade Southern ports to cut off trade and control the Mississippi River to split the Confederacy in two. The Union hoped to slowly