United States History

Who started the Civil War?: Comparing perspectives on the causes of the war

This lesson plans presents the account of Rose O'Neal Greenhow, a confederate spy during the Civil War. Students are encouraged to find confirming and refuting evidence of her perspective on what caused the Civil War by browsing the Documenting the American South Collection of digitized primary sources.

Format: lesson plan (grade 11–12 Social Studies)

By Meghan Mcglinn.

Plantation life in the 1840s: A slave's description

This lesson introduces students to a description of life on the plantation and the cultivation of cotton from the perspective of a slave. It focuses on the use of slave narratives made available by the Documenting the American South collection.

Format: lesson plan (grade 11–12 Social Studies)

By John Schaefer and Victoria Schaefer.

Fugitive Slave Law simulation

Students face the critical issue of the Fugitive Slave Bill that gave Southerners the right to regain their runaway slaves and return them to bondage. It is also considered by many to have contributed to growing sectionalism in the U.S. and eventually the Civil War. In order to take on the roles of historical actors, students will examine primary source documents from the Documenting the American South collection and critique arguments in favor and opposed to the Bill.

Format: lesson plan (grade 11–12 Social Studies)

By Meghan Mcglinn.

Resources on the web

Lincoln goes to war

This lesson explores the decision-making process that precipitated the Civil War, focusing on deliberations within the Lincoln administration that led to the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter in April 1861. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Provided by: National Endowment for the Humanities