The Emancipation Proclamation is perhaps one of the most important documents generated during Abraham Lincoln's presidency. Examining this document will provide students significant insight into how Lincoln evolved as a president during the Civil War, how he operated politically, and how he conducted the war.
With this activity, students will use a grid storyboard to analyze the Proclamation as a primary source document. They will make inferences about Lincoln's presidency through direct quotes and examine the rationale and meaning behind excerpts of the document. Students may select their own excerpts, or the teacher can provide several options for them to analyze.
Extended Activity
Have students analyze and synthesize the words of "The Gettysburg Address". Students should again utilize the grid layout to relate direct quotes, comment on the quote, and put it into their own words. While short, "The Gettysburg Address" was a rallying cry at a crucial point in the Civil War, and is considered a seminal document today.
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard analyzing excerpts of the Emancipation Proclamation.
Build a simple timeline of key Civil War events alongside your document analysis to help students connect historical context with the Emancipation Proclamation. This supports deeper understanding and critical thinking.
Choose 5–7 major Civil War milestones (e.g., Lincoln’s election, secession, major battles, issuing the Proclamation) that influenced or were influenced by the document. Briefly explain why each event matters.
Display the timeline on a whiteboard, bulletin board, or with an online tool. Encourage students to help build it by adding dates, short descriptions, and visuals for each event.
Ask students to match quotes from the Emancipation Proclamation to relevant points on the timeline. Discuss how the events may have shaped Lincoln’s decisions and the document’s language.
Invite students to share insights about how understanding the sequence of events deepens their analysis of the Proclamation. Highlight connections between past actions and primary source interpretation.
Using a grid storyboard is an effective way to teach the Emancipation Proclamation. Students analyze direct quotes, explain their meaning, and illustrate each excerpt, helping them engage with the document as a primary source and develop critical thinking skills.
Students should select key excerpts, record direct quotes, and use a grid storyboard to interpret the meaning and rationale behind each passage. Adding illustrations helps deepen understanding of historical context and Lincoln's presidency.
Activities include analyzing excerpts with a storyboard grid, making inferences about Lincoln’s leadership, and comparing the Emancipation Proclamation with the Gettysburg Address for synthesis and critical analysis.
Use the same grid analysis method for both documents. Have students relate direct quotes, comment on their significance, and paraphrase in their own words, allowing them to identify themes and historical impact of both speeches.
Analyzing primary sources helps students develop critical thinking, understand historical context, and draw connections between events. It deepens appreciation for documents that shaped U.S. history, like the Emancipation Proclamation.