1. A Dividing Nation

2. QuickWrite
Answer the following question in your notebook
If you are involved in a serious argument in which something important is at stake, is it better to compromise with or confront your opponent? Explain your reasoning.
From 1850 to 1861, a series of events caused increasing divisions between the North and the South, culminating with the Civil War. Just as students reflected on whether to compromise or be confrontational in an argument where something important was at stake, both the North and the South made choices to compromise or to conflict in their disagreements. In this case, the future of the United States was at stake. Students will learn about the events that led up to the Civil War and
decide whether war was inevitable.

3. Was the Civil War inevitable?
Essential Question
Was the Civil War inevitable?

4. The Caning Of charles sumner
Clip on the Caning of Sumner
What was the controversy over?
What was an almost immediate result of the caning?
This is clearly larger than a disagreement between two men. Why is this even so significant in American history?
The controversey was over remarks Sumner said regarding slavery and Kansas trying to enter the union as a slave state
It refined the attitudes of north and south and thousands joined the Republican party
It leaves little room for compromise and

5. Missouri Compromise • Draw in and label the Missouri Compromise line.
• Color free states and territories. Fill in the key with the appropriate color.
• Use a different color for slave states and territories.
• Annotate your map with differences between the North and South by listing at least three important details about the way of life in each region.

6. North v. south sectionalism
Urban population >9-35%
NY 60, ,000
Agriculture, factories, workshops, mills
Railroad lines in the North connected factories and cities of NE to Midwest farms
Rural (small farms and plantations)
New Orleans 169,000
Little industry; relied on export of agricultural products
Plantation agriculture and slave labor was basis of economy
Rice, corn, cotton
Much less railroad lines and relied on rivers

7. Events Leading to the Civil War
Draw a vertical timeline in your notebook with the parameters,
You and your group will analyzing the primary sources through discussion
Arrange them in chronological order
Discuss whether each shows a spirit of conflict or compromise
LASTLY you will read the text as a group to check your timeline and rearrange as needed
Conflict Compromise
1850
1861

8. Compromise or Conflict?
List of Events
Compromise of 1850
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Bleeding Kansas
Dred Scott Decision
John Brown’s raid
Election of 1860
South Carolina secedes
On the side of the timeline labeled “Compromise,” place events from the list below that you believe reflected a spirit of compromise. On the side of the timeline labeled “Conflict,” place events that you believe showed a spirit of conflict. Be sure to include:
the name and date of the event.
a short description of the event.
a brief explanation of why you believe this event showed a spirit of compromise or conflict.

9. Ken Burns The Civil War clip
Click HERE
24:25 – 39:35