1. Abraham Lincoln

2. Abraham Lincoln Lawyer from Illinois
Got involved with politics due to Kansas-Nebraska Act
Election to presidency in 1860=Southern secession

3. Views on slavery and black rights
Very complex
Inaugural Address (1860)-opposed to expansion of slavery
Was only concerned about preserving the Union
Slavery and Black Rights done to reach that goal

4. Great emancipator vs. racist
Some have called Lincoln Great Emancipator
Emancipation Proclamation and Union victory=no more slavery
Others have called him a racist
Was he one of these two or somewhere in between

5. Was Lincoln a racist? Document a
Stephen A. Douglas
Political rival of Lincoln
Runs against him for US Senate in 1858
Series of debates that grab national attention
Douglas believed in popular sovereignty

6. Document a Read the document
Consider: What does Douglas say will happen if Lincoln is elected?
What are Douglas’s views on blacks?

7. Document b Lincoln’s reply to Douglas at debates
Outdoor debates lasting for several hours
What are some potential problems?
What are the points of similarities and differences between Douglas and Lincoln?

8. Document C: Lincoln’s Letter
Look at when this letter is written
Way before Lincoln is President-is really not even involved in politics
Who is this letter to? Does that make you trust it more?
What is the scene Lincoln describes?
What is amazing about the scene?

9. Document D: Pro-Slavery Book
John Bell Robinson-pro-slavery writer
What is book called and when was it written?
How do Lincoln’s views compare to John Bell Robinsons? Similarities? Differences?

10. Group work Focus on only one side-pro-racist or anti-racist
Determine the actual evidence to support your one side only
Write it down
After this, you may abandon your side
Using the documents argue for either side
Write your final group agreement on last page
MUST USE EVIDENCE FROM THE DOCUMENTS!!