Secession
From: Digital Public Library of America
Grade Level: (HS), (College)
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: Depends Upon Chosen Lesson Plan
Length of Reading: Pages
The recommended "Classroom activities" (see heading at the bottom of the page) entails assigning groups to a particular state that seceded from the Union. The groups will analyze that state's secession doc and present on its main ideas as well as major happenings. Then the class discusses. Many state secession docs can be found on The Decision to Secede site from the AHA.
The secession of the Southern States page also lists 7 "Discussion ideas," each with links to 1 or 2 primary sources. There is also a research and presentation activity. You might use this as a choice board or pick the one(s) you like. You can, for example, compare speeches from Jefferson Davis and Abraham Lincoln. Or you can compare the secession docs of South Carolina and Texas. There are shorter docs as well, a broadside and an lithograph for example.
More Information:
Grade Level:
(HS), (College): There is no specified age group for this activity; however, we think it would be well suited for high school and college students
This Activity Involves:
Primary Source: This activity utilizes primary sources.
Group Work: This activity calls for working in pairs or groups or having a group discussion.
“Bacon's military map of the United States shewing the forts & fortifications,” Digital Public Library of America, https://dp.la/item/16e66ed896e93f911a1adabf6c2fcb1b.
