1. What do you see. What do you think this is a picture of
What do you see? What do you think this is a picture of? Write 3 guesses!

6. The Bombardment at Fort Sumter
In the weeks following Lincoln’s election, talk of secession filled the air.
December 20, 1860: Abraham Lincoln was asked whether he could support some sort of compromise on slavery. His answer was clear. He would not interfere with slavery in the South. He would even support enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Law. But, Lincoln added, “Let there be no compromise on the issue of extending slavery.”
On the same day, South Carolina voted to secede from the United States. The city went wild. Church bells rang and huge crowds filled the streets, cheering.
March 4, 1861: Lincoln is sworn in as president. In his inauguration speech, he said that his first duty as president was to keep the nation together. He asked the rebellious states to return to the nation in peace, saying, “In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow countrymen, is the momentous issue of civil war.”
April 12, 1861: Firebrands in South Carolina took the decision into their own hands. They opened fire on a federal fort in Charleston, South Carolina, trying to push northerners out. After 36 hours of shelling, northerners inside the fort raised a white flag of surrender.

7. The Bombardment at Fort Sumter

8. What should we do about the crisis facing the nation?
Today’s Question:
What should we do about the crisis facing the nation?

9. Agenda: Prepare for a Press Conference on the eve of the Civil War
Letter to a historical figure

11. Press Conference: Today, 6 historical figures from the will meet to discuss what we should do about the crisis facing the nation.
Frederick Douglass
Abraham Lincoln
Jefferson Davis
Anna Ella Carroll
John C Calhoun
Robert E. Lee

12. Group work:
Work with your group. Talking to another group can distract them from their tasks and hinder their learning as well as your own. Direct your attention toward the other members of your group at all times.
Stay on task. As interesting as the football game or tv show on last night is, you are in class and should remained focused on your group assignments.

13. Prepare for Press Conference
Read the biography aloud. Stop and talk about the questions as you go.
Keep in mind—what should we do about the crisis facing the nation?

14. Create your questions:
Create 4 questions to ask your historical figure during the press conference. These questions should help the class understand what your character thinks we should do about this crisis. Write the questions on one page, the answers on a separate page (use a scrap piece of paper from the back of your notebook!)

15. Jobs:
Actor: takes on the role of your historical figure at the panel discussion Reporters: each reporter should ask your historical figure 1 question at the panel discussion

16. Frederick Douglass

17. John C. Calhoun

18. Robert E. Lee

19. Abraham Lincoln

20. Jefferson Davis

21. Anna Ella Carroll

22. Which historical figure(s) do you agree with?
On the left side of your notebook, write a letter to the newly elected president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. In your letter, explain what you think the country should do about this crisis. Which historical figures did you agree with? Which do you disagree with?