1. The Civil War & the Constitution
The First Constitutional Crisis

2. Discussion Questions Discuss the following with your group:
What do you think might have been some Constitutional issues brought up before during and after the Civil War?
Discussion Questions

3. Constitutional Issues Leading to the Civil War
What issues were in the Constitution regarding slavery?
3/5ths Clause (Article 1 Sec. 2)
Fugitive Slave Law (Article IV Sec. 2)
Prohibiting the ban on importation of slaves (Article 1 Section 9)
Do these need to be resolved? If so, how?
Constitutional Issues Leading to the Civil War

4. “The black man has no rights that the white man is bound to respect
“The black man has no rights that the white man is bound to respect.”- Chief Just Roger Taney
Take notes on the following:
What did Taney mean by this quote?
Do you think Taney’s decision preserved the union or drove a wedge between the North & South? Why?
3:45- 9:40/ 23:00- 25:00
Dred Scott

5. Constitutional Issues Leading to the Civil War
What justification did the southern states use to leave the Union?
The states did not give up their sovereignty when they ratified the Constitution
The Declaration of Independence stated that if the people were unhappy with their government they had the right to rebel.
Did they have a legit argument?
Constitutional Issues Leading to the Civil War

6. President Lincoln’s Actions During the Civil War
What constitutional issues arose during the Civil War? (Pg. 120)
Lincoln expanded the military (not Congress)
Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus (13,000 Americans were detained without trial)
Emancipation Proclamation (only 8 years after Dred Scott)
President Lincoln’s Actions During the Civil War

7. Sit with the same group as yesterday

8. Were Lincoln’s Actions Justified?
Read your article silently
With your group fill out the left side of the “Two Sides of the Story” organizer
Next, you and a partner will meet up with another pair and verbally share the info from your left column
Lastly, fill out the bottom portion- which side made the stronger argument? Why?
Were Lincoln’s Actions Justified?

9. Constitutional Issues Resolved by the Civil War
What issues left unanswered in the Constitution were resolved after the Civil War?
The slavery issue was resolved (13th Amendment)
Citizenship was defined (14th Amendment)
Voting rights were expanded (15th Amendment)
Constitutional Issues Resolved by the Civil War

10. The Impeachment of President Johnson
Lincoln is assassinated in 1865 & Andrew Johnson becomes President- who became V.P.?
In 1868 President Johnson is impeached- Who decides the verdict? (Article I Sec. 3)
What happens if a V.P. is impeached?
Nemo judex in causa sua= no one should be a judge in his own cause
Who become president if Johnson is impeached?
Senator Benjamin Franklin Wade is the Senate Pro Tempore- Should he be allowed to vote during the impeachment trial?
The Impeachment of President Johnson

11. Go on Edmodo and make a post that answers the following question:
What events before during and after the Civil War created the biggest Constitutional crisis? Provide examples to support your claim.
Make sure to also comment on one other students post on whether you agree or disagree with them and why.
Assessment