Activity Overview
Delving into the economic, political, and social upheavals of a war alongside closely analyzing the causes that led to the war allows students to understand how a crisis begins and how it affects the countries involved. In the case of the American Civil War, the slave question was the driving force that led the country to tear itself apart. But the reasons behind the question are what's most interesting.
In this activity, students will create a T Chart that outlines the causes of the Civil War war, and the effects on both the North and South. In one column, students will identify the causes of rising tension and the things both the North and South had at stake. In the other, students will identify the effect the issue had on the fragile and fracturing nation.
Students may choose to discuss the following topics (included but not limited to):
- States Rights vs Federal Power
- Sectionalism
- Secession
- Economy
- Lincoln's Election
- Slavery
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard outlining the causes and effects of the American Civil War.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In the left column, identify the major issues or causes of the Civil War.
- In the right column, identify the effect that issue had on the nation.
- Create illustrations using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
Lesson Plan Reference
- [ELA-Literacy/RI/9-10/2] Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cause | All events on the left side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as causes. These events are why something else happened. | Most events on the left side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as causes or why something else happened. | Few or no events on the left side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as causes or why something else happened. |
| Effect | All events on the right side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as effects. These events are direct results of something else. | Most events on the right side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as effects or direct results of something else. | Few or no events on the right side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as effects or direct results of something else. |
| Images | Images clearly show the events in the story that have been identified as causes and effects. | Images show events from the story, but not all images match the cause and effect events. | Images do not represent the story or are missing. |
| Cause and Effect Relationship | All rows correctly show cause events in the story having a direct effect on the effect events. | Most rows correctly show cause events in the story having a direct effect on the effect events. | Few or no rows correctly show cause events in the story having a direct effect on the effect events. |
How To Discuss the Topic of Slavery in Class
Create a Safe and Respectful Environment for Discussion
Encourage an environment in the classroom where all students feel free to share their ideas, inquiries, and feelings. Insist on the value of civil and understanding dialogue. Make sure that the students are already aware that any sort of misbehavior or degrading marks will not be tolerated and even if they disagree with an opinion, they should patiently explain their point.
Give Context and Important Terms
Start with giving a general review of slavery's historical background, including its causes and significance on a worldwide scale. To make sure that everyone is familiar with the lexicon, define important concepts and complex terms that require more understanding.
Discuss Primary Sources and Diverse Perspectives
Introduce historical documents, letters, and slave narratives as primary sources. Abolitionists, slaveholders, and those who were enslaved should all be represented in extracts, among others. Help the students understand the complexity of the issue and the root cause through these sources.
Discuss Relevance to Current Impact
Aid students in understanding how slavery continues to have an influence on society today. Discuss the connections between the historical legacy of slavery and systematic racism, racial disparities, and social justice movements. Encourage your pupils to draw comparisons between historical and contemporary injustices.
Reflect and Promote Empathy
Encourage students to consider their individual identities and how they connect to the subject. Encourage empathy by encouraging students to imagine themselves in the position of abolitionists, slaves, or other participants. Encourage honest discussion of how the content makes you feel.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Causes of the US Civil War Analysis
Was the Civil War brought about only by slavery?
Although slavery was a major contributing factor, other elements including economic disparities and local political unrest also played a role. Other minor elements such as differences in opinions and different priorities caused the issue such as Slavery to play an even bigger role in the war. Slavery played a significant role as a catalyst, but it was also intimately related to economic concerns and political ideals. The intricacy of the conflict is highlighted by the interconnectedness of these factors.
What role did economic disparities play in the US Civil War?
Tensions over topics like tariffs and the role of government in the economy resulted from the economic differences between the industrial North and the rural South. Each region's viewpoints on important problems were affected by its economic interests. The North's industrialization and support for protective tariffs collided with the South's reliance on agriculture and slavery.
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History of the US Civil War
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