In this activity, students will use a timeline storyboard to portray the major events that precede the Civil War. By examining John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry, the election of 1860, the eventual secession of South Carolina, and the bombing of Fort Sumter, students will understand and analyze the events that lead to the outbreak of the Civil War. Other events that can be used include: the Dred Scott decision, the several acts and legislation previously mentioned, or the Election of 1856. This will allow students to understand, in a more literal sense, how and why the Civil War finally came about.
For an alternative to the timeline layout, have students create a timeline poster to incorporate into a presentation or gallery walk. You can add more than one template to this assignment to give students lots of options!
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a timeline detailing the important events leading to the Civil War.