1. Warm Up
You will be given 5 minutes to complete the following: Explain in a 5-7 sentence paragraph why southerners did not want slavery to be abolished. State at least 3 reasons in your paragraph. After 5 minutes, you will “turn and talk” to discuss your answer.

2. Academic Vocabulary Word of the Day!!!
Point of view: Who can define this term for us? Who can use this word in a sentence?

3. Objective- SWBAT understand the importance of the election of 1860

4. During the presidential election of 1860, regional differences divided the nation. What was the issue that divided the regions in the United States? What did each side stand for? (Turn and talk to discuss)

5. The issue of slavery split the Democratic party
The issue of slavery split the Democratic party. Northern Democrats supported popular sovereignty. Southern Democrats vowed to uphold slavery. Who can recall what popular sovereignty means? (Turn and talk)

6. Do you think the Democratic party had unity. Why or why not
Do you think the Democratic party had unity? Why or why not? Do you think they would be able to win the election? Why or why not? (Turn and talk)

7. The Democrats were divided, so the chances of them winning a presidential election was slim.

8. The Republicans nominated Abraham Lincoln
The Republicans nominated Abraham Lincoln. The Republicans wanted to leave slavery alone where it existed, but also ban it in the territories. Still, white southerners feared that a Republican victory would promote slave revolts as well as interfere with slavery.

9. With the Democrats divided, Lincoln won a clear majority of the electoral votes. Lincoln won in every Northern state, however, his name did not even appear on the ballot in most Southern states. Why do you think his name was left off the ballot in Southern states? (Turn and talk)

10. Guided Practice
As a class, we will popcorn read a passage titled, “Looking for Compromise/The Confederacy Established” and answer the following comprehension questions:
What can you infer from the heading about the text that follows?
What was the Republican position on slavery?
What did the southerners think would happen?
What do you think South Carolina could have done instead of seceding?

11. Independent Practice
Read a passage titled, “Lincoln Takes Over, and the Public Reacts to Secession” and answer the following comprehension questions:
Compare and contrast the reactions to secession in a 3-5 sentence paragraph
Paraphrase the quote from Lincolns First Inaugural Address in your own words

12. Group Work You will receive a map titled “Seceding States, 1860-1861”
Group 1-What do Missouri, Kentucky, and West Virginia have in common?
Group 2- Which states seceded before the attack on Fort Sumter? Which states seceded after the attack on Fort Sumter?
Group 3- If slave states were in the Union, what can you infer about the conflict between the North and South?
Group 4- Which side controlled more territory, and how might the answer affect a military conflict between both sides?

13. Exit Ticket
What was President Lincolns priority when he took office in March 1861?