Lesson 1: Causes of the Civil War

How did political, economic, and social differences between the North and South contribute to growing sectional tensions in the United States?
In what ways did specific events and movements, such as the Dred Scott Decision, the Free Soil Movement, and Harper’s Ferry, push the nation closer to secession and war?

Sectionalism
Abolitionist
Fugitive Slave Law
Nullification
Secession
Compromise
Underground Railroad

8.His.15.a
Evaluate the relative influence of political, economic, and social developments that contributed to secession (e.g., Free Soil Movement, Nullification, Dred Scott Decision, Harper's Ferry, abolition)

Students will explore the political, economic, and social factors that divided the United States in the years leading up to the Civil War. They will examine the rise of sectionalism, the role of slavery, cultural and economic differences between the North and South, and key events and movements such as the Free Soil Movement, Nullification, the Dred Scott Decision, Harper’s Ferry, and abolition. Through discussion, analysis, and guided activities, students will evaluate how these factors contributed to Southern secession and the outbreak of the Civil War.

Provide a partially completed graphic organizer with categories for Political, Economic, and Social Causes, leaving space for students to fill in examples and explanations.
Provide a vocabulary chart with words, images, and sentence frames (e.g., “_____ was important because _____”).
Pair students for think-pair-share activities using the vocabulary in context.
Use color-coded cards for each category (Political = blue, Economic = green, Social = yellow) to help students categorize causes visually.

Causes of Division that Lead to the American Civil War

Causes of Division that Lead to the American Civil War