Download Road to the Civil War

Road to the Civil War
A Web-Quest for 8th Grade Social Studies
Introduction
Slavery was one of the major causes of the Civil War. Some slaves were able to escape their bondage
through the underground railroad, which was a network of people that worked together to help slaves
escape to freedom. However, there were other issues that divided North and South in the 1800s. These
issues were cultural, economic, and political in nature. The election of 1860 proved to be the breaking
point, and what followed was the "War between the States," or Civil War, which lasted from 18611865.
The Task
Your task is to create a quilt about the events leading up to the Civil War. Read the directions below to
create your quilt.
The Process
Your quilt will be constructed of Nine, 8 x 8 paper squares. Each square will have its own set of
directions for completion. When all squares are completed, attach them by using glue, tape, or
staples. You may also attach them to a poster board.
Other than the center square, the quilt can be arranged in any pattern.
Center Square (square 1) - CAUSES OF THE CIVIL WAR
In this square you will explain one of the major causes of the Civil War. Use the links to help you
explain why this issue was a cause of the Civil War. Choose from the following:
Compromise of 1850
Dred Scott v. Sandford
Uncle Tom's Cabin
The Tariff
States' Rights
Sectionalism
Kansas-Nebraska Act
John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry
http://members.tripod.com/~greatamericanhistory/gr02013.htm
http://www.swcivilwar.com/cw_causes.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War
http://www.mrburnett.net/civilwar.html
Square 2 - ELECTION OF 1860
Explain the important issues at stake in this critical election. Use the sites to answer these guiding
questions. Write your answer in paragraphs. You may include a picture of the candidates.
1. Who were the candidates, and what were their platforms?
2. Why was the outcome of this election so important?
3. What does "secession" mean?
4. What was the outcome of the election?
http://www.multied.com/elections/1860.html
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h92.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._presidential_election,_1860
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secession
Square 3 - CHOOSING SIDES
After the Election of 1860, South Carolina seceded from the Union. Over the next few months, 10 more
states followed. Which states sided with the Union? With the Confederacy? Which slave states
remained in the Union? Your teacher will provide you with a U.S. map. Use the links, and textbook
page 485, to help you label and color the map to show:
1. Union States and Confederate States
2. Slave States that remained in the Union
3. A timeframe for secession (when did states secede?)
http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/academic/history/marshall/military/civil_war_usa/CSA.documents/secede.gif
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:USA_Map_1864_including_Civil_War_Divisions.png
Square 4 - UNDERGROUND RAILROAD OVERVIEW
Using the sites provided below, you are to write a paragraph summarizing what you have learned about
the underground railroad. Be sure to include information about how it got its name, when it was in
operation, who was involved, and how the railroad worked.
(Remember that the Underground Railroad was a network created to help slaves escape to the
North. Secret escape routes were passed on through secret codes used by the "conductors" and by slaves
themselves. These codes could be found in slave songs as well as hand sewn quilts. Include some of
this information in your summary).
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2944.html
http://education.ucdavis.edu/NEW/STC/lesson/socstud/railroad/Whatis.htm
Square 5 - UNDERGROUND RAILROAD ROUTES (MAP)
Contrary to popular belief, the underground railroad was not one set route. Use the sites below to
explore the many routes that escaped slaves took. In this square you will draw a map of an escape route
that you may have taken if you were slave trying to reach freedom in the north. Give a brief explanation
of why you chose the route that you chose and include why you chose your final destination.
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/railroad/map.html
http://education.ucdavis.edu/NEW/STC/lesson/socstud/railroad/Map.htm
Square 6 - JOURNAL ENTRY OF AN ESCAPED SLAVE
In this square you will write a journal entry depicting what it would have been like to be an escaped
slave traveling on the underground railroad. Use what you already know about the underground railroad
to make your journal entry realistic. Be sure to include what you see, who you meet, and how you feel.
The information should be based on the route that you have chosen to take (square 3). The site below
provides excerpts from journals of slaves, railroad conductors, and abolitionists to help guide you.
http://historyalive.weac.org/teachers/stories.htm
http://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/index.html
Square 7 - SIGNIFICANT FIGURES IN THE CIVIL WAR PERIOD
Choose one of the famous people from the Civil War period. Use the link provided to research that
person. On this square, you will include a picture of this person which can be downloaded from the
internet. You must write a brief biography of this person. Be sure to include his/her role in the Civil
War.
http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/undergroundrr/people.html
http://americancivilwar.com
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/cwphtml/cwphome.html
Squares 8 and 9 - ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
How prepared was the North and the South to fight the war? Each side had advantages and
disadvantages at the beginning of the Civil War. Square 8 should focus on the North and square 9
should focus on the South. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of each side on these two squares.
http://www.socialstudieshelp.com/Lesson_35_Notes.htm
http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/civil-war-docs/
Evaluation
Your teacher will provide you with the rubric.
You will receive a timeline for completing each of the squares from your teacher.
Conclusion
Congratulations!! If you have made it to this point, you have successfully navigated your way through
the Web Quest. You have gained a much broader understanding of the causes of the Civil War and of
those who were involved.
Credits & References
Ideas and resources gathered from the following sites:
http://www.geocities.com/resiz1/
http://www.greece.k12.ny.us/ath/library/webquests/underground/default.htm
http://www.hobart.k12.in.us/suzquest/main.html
http://coleman.glenrocknj.org/fritschea%20webquest/Underground%20Railroad.htm
http://www.davidson.k12.nc.us/webquests/undrgdrr/undrgdrr.htm
http://persons.marlboro.edu/~lesliew/design/webframe.html
Last updated on August 15, 1999. Based on a template from The Web Quest Page