The American Civil War

Introduction

Introduction

The American Civil War was the bloodiest war on US soil.  During this WebQuest you will have an opportunity to explore various perspectives of the American Civil War.  As you explore the topic you will be asked to be thinking about what the causes and effects were of the Civil War and debate if it was actually necessary to end slavery.  Divisions in our country both politically and geographically were being depended in the mid-1800's over many issues but especially the issue of slavery.  To southerners slavery was an essential part of their region's economy but abolitionist in the north were continuly threating this way of live. 

The nation's leaders were unable to resolve the divisive issue of slavery in the 1840s and 1850s.  The growth of the abolition movement in the North and the presidential election of 1860 were proof to many Southerners that the time had come to secede from the Union. By the time Abraham Lincoln reached Washington D.C. the United States was divided. 

Task

The Civil War was the bloodiest conflict in United States history with over 618,000 soldiers killed. But was war the only answer to the divisions between the North and South?

You will read the views of northern and southern leaders, including arguments for and against slavery. You will also read about the events which led to the American Civil War. As you read these primary sources, you should consider the following:

Factual:

What ideas and events contributed to the conflict between the North and the South?

Conceptual:

How does conflict shape our reality?

Debatable:

Would slavery have ended without the American Civil War?

In the concluding activity you will be asked to write a narraitive arguing one side of the debatable question. 

Process

You will read eight primary sources from national leaders with various perspectives.  Read each and answer the review questions below the readings. 

Using class discussions, your textbook and these reading you will write a narriative from the perspective of someone living prior to the start of the American Civil War argining if slavery could have ended without the conflict. 

Your narrative should:

  • Have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
  • State your position and clearly explain why you feel that way through your role while using solid historical evidence, details, and quotes from the readings to support your point of view.

Required Readings:

Additional Links:

Evaluation

Evaluation

Your performance on this assignment will be evaluated using the following rubric.

 

Criterion C:  Thinking Critically

0

The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors below.

1-2

The student:

  • Makes a limited attempt to identify the main points of ideas, events, issues or arguments.
  • Identifies the origin and purpose of some sources.
  • Identifies some different views
  • Makes connections between information to give limited opinions.

3-4

The student:

  • Indentifies some main points of ideas, events, issues or arguments.
  • Identifies the origin and purpose of sources.
  • Identifies some different views and suggests some implications of these
  • Makes connections between information to give simple opinions.

5-6

The student:

  • Identifies the main points of ideas, events, issues or arguments.
  • Recognizes the origin and purpose of sources.
  • Indentifies different views and their implications
  • Makes connections between information to give opinions.

 

7-8

The student:

  • Identifies in detail the main points of ideas, events, issues or arguments.
  • Analyzes a range of sources in terms of origin and purpose. 
  • Clearly indentifies different views and their implications
  • Makes connections between information to give relevant opinions. 
Credits

Fleischman, Darren. "Civil War WebQuest." WebQuest. Red Hook Central Schools. Web. 24 Oct. 2014.