The Civil War & Reconstruction · 1861 – 1877
The Election of 1860
The victory of Abraham Lincoln and the subsequent secession of Southern states.
Key Questions
- 1How could Lincoln win the presidency without a single Southern electoral vote?
- 2What was the primary argument used by the South to justify secession?
- 3Was the Civil War inevitable by the time Lincoln was inaugurated?
Common Core State Standards
C3: D2.Civ.2.6-8C3: D2.His.1.6-8
Grade: 8th Grade
Subject: American History
Unit: The Civil War & Reconstruction
Period: 1861 – 1877
Suggested Methodologies
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More in The Civil War & Reconstruction
Resources & Strategies
Comparing the strengths/weaknesses of the Union and the Confederacy.
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Turning Points of the War
Antietam, Gettysburg, Vicksburg, and the shift in Union leadership.
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The Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln's wartime executive order and its impact on the purpose of the war.
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The End of the War
Sherman's March, the surrender at Appomattox, and the assassination of Lincoln.
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The Reconstruction Amendments
The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments and the definition of citizenship.
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