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Text graphic titled "Unit 8: The Civil War 1860-1865" with an orange sidebar.
A document detailing the Northwest Ordinance and its implications for slavery and civil rights during the Civil War era.
A graphic organizer titled "Countdown to War," summarizing events leading to the Civil War with space for details and key players.
Text document with information about Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee regarding the Union's secession, dated 1861.

Unit 8: Civil War Student Activities & Handouts

Text graphic titled "Unit 8: The Civil War 1860-1865" with an orange sidebar.
Civil War Interactive Timeline
Activity

Activity

How did fundamental disagreements over slavery and its expansion lead to a devastating civil war that transformed the United States?
A document detailing the Northwest Ordinance and its implications for slavery and civil rights during the Civil War era.
Underlying and Immediate Causes of the Civil War Primary Source Set
Activity

Activity

Evaluate the effectiveness of political compromises and legislative actions through primary sources.
A graphic organizer titled "Countdown to War," summarizing events leading to the Civil War with space for details and key players.
Countdown to War Graphic Organizer
Activity

Activity

Analyze the causes and effects of major conflicts and events leading up to the Civil War.
Text document with information about Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee regarding the Union's secession, dated 1861.
Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee on Leaving the Union, 1861 Primary Source
Activity

Activity

Understand the reasons why some individuals chose to join the secession movement.
Text excerpt discussing the secession and the role of Abraham Lincoln in the Civil War. Contains vocabulary and essay options.
Secession and the Start of the Civil War Essay
Essay - 883 Words

Essay

883 Words

Understand the reasons why some individuals chose to join the secession movement.
An essay titled "Views of Slavery" discussing slavery's growth and key historical events in America.
Views of Slavery Leading Up to the Civil War
Essay - 2097 Words

Essay

2097 Words

How did slavery divide the nation?
A document with the title "Views of Slavery," outlining guidance and sorting activities on slavery perspectives.
Views of Slavery Primary Source Set
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Activity

Analyze primary source quotes to identify perspectives supporting abolition or slavery.
Document titled "Battles of the Civil War" with teacher directions and a table of contents for historical art images.
Battles of the Civil War Primary Source Set
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Activity

How did the war transform the nation socially, economically, and politically?
Map of Civil War battles, depicting Union and Confederate territories as a puzzle. Key with battle years included.
Battles of the Civil War Puzzle Map
Activity

Activity

An interactive way for students to interpret and synthesize information from historical maps.
Text from a document discussing domestic and international views of the Civil War, including guiding questions and objectives.
Domestic and International Views of the Civil War Primary Source Set
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Activity

Explore different views of people from other countries about the Civil War.
A graphic organizer listing primary sources on domestic and international views of the Civil War with guiding questions.
Domestic and International Views of the Civil War Graphic Organizer
Activity

Activity

Explore different views of people from other countries about the Civil War.
Essay excerpt titled "Surrender at Appomattox" with sections on vocabulary and historical context.
Surrender at Appomattox Essay
Essay - 1554 Words

Essay

1554 Words

Explain how the Civil War came to an end at Appomattox.
Educational document titled "Voices from the Civil War" with guiding questions and objectives related to the Civil War.
Voices from the Civil War Primary Source Set
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Activity

Explore the stories of Northerners and Southerners during the Civil War and their views of the conflict.
Graphic organizer for analyzing Civil War documents with objectives and reflection prompts.
Voices from the Civil War Document Analysis Graphic Organizer
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Activity

Explore the stories of Northerners and Southerners during the Civil War and their views of the conflict.
Academic poster about the Civil War Battles Research Project, outlining assignment details and visual elements.
Civil War Battles Research Project Assignment Sheet
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Activity

Create a product to showcase learning and inform others.
Text and objectives related to the Thirteenth Amendment, including directions for analysis.
Thirteenth Amendment Primary Source
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Activity

This case study on the Thirteenth Amendment includes an essay, primary sources, analysis questions, discussion prompts, and additional resources.
Graphic organizer titled "Lincoln's Decisions During the Civil War" with guiding question and objective details.
Lincoln’s Decisions During the Civil War
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Activity

How did Lincoln show prudence in constitutional decisions during the Civil War?
Image of a vocabulary word study worksheet with sections for word definition, usage, synonyms, and antonyms.
Middle School Vocabulary Word Study
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Activity

A word study framework for deep understanding of important vocabulary.