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Civil War (1860-1865) Middle School Teacher Unit Overview

Unit 8 of Building a Self-Governing People BRI’s Civics and U.S. History Curriculum for Middle School, invites students to examine the causes of the Civil War, consider the challenges faced by the nation during the conflict, and evaluate the meaning of the war for American democracy. The unit emphasizes how fundamental disagreements over slavery and its expansion lead to a devastating civil war that transformed the United States.

Published
Oct 30, 2025
Text slide titled "Unit Overview" with orange sidebar and page number 8.

Unit Outline

Unit 8: Civil War (1860-1865) 
Examine the causes of the Civil War and the challenges faced by the nation during the conflict. Evaluate the meaning of the war for American democracy.   
Assessment Focus: 

All skills 

  • Creating a thesis  
  • Grouping primary sources  
  • Document summary and analysis (VIEW) 
  • Adding historical context  
  • Using/providing evidence 
 DBQ/ Essential Question: 

How did fundamental disagreements over slavery and its expansion lead to a devastating civil war that transformed the United States? 
DBQ Documents:

  • Document A: Republican Party Platform
  • Document B: Excerpt from Daniel Webster “7th of March” Speech
  • Document C: Secession Statement from South Carolina
  • Document D: Secession Statement from Georgia
  • Document E: Jefferson Davis Inaugural Address
  • Document F: Abraham Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address
  • Document G: Excerpts from Alexander Stephens’ Cornerstone Address
DBQ Resources: 
Topic 1 Topic 2 Topic 3
Causes of the Civil War  The War and its Impact  Leadership 
Guiding Questions:

What were the underlying causes of the Civil War? 

How did slavery divide the nation? 

How did the election of Abraham Lincoln and the secession of Southern states lead to conflict? 

 Guiding Questions:

What were the major turning points and events of the Civil War?  

How did the war transform the nation socially, economically, and politically? 

 Guiding Question:

How did Lincoln show prudence in constitutional decisions during the war? 
Resources:

 Resources:

 

 Resources:
Principle(s)

  • Equality 
 Virtue(s)

  • Prudence 

 

 

 

Standards

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