Civil War Primary Source Presentation
As a way to deepen our understanding of the Civil War, we will examine five key
primary source documents. Our study of these documents will be guided by five
separate groups of students. Each group will: (1.) present the historical background
on these documents, (2.) provide a close reading guide, and (3.) lead a Harkness
discussion of the document and the role it played in shaping American identity
during the Civil War.
The five documents are (along with key historical background events):
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Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address: The Eve of the War
o The Election of 1860 and fracturing of political parties
o Secession
o Lincoln’s initial hopes for unity
The Emancipation Proclamation: The War Begins in Earnest
o Bull Run
o Northern and southern strategies
o Battle of Antietam
o Role of the Border States
The Gettysburg Address: The Turning Point
o Battle of Vicksburg
o Battle of Gettysburg
o 1863 as the turning point in the war
Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address: The Dawning of Inevitability
o Sherman’s March
o Growing Southern desperation and the inevitability of the War’s end
o The Election of 1864
o Appomattox
The Reconstruction Amendments: What Happens Next?
o Lincoln’s Assassination
o 13th, 14th 15th amendments
o Radical Republicanism
o “Reconstruction” (reintegrating the south politically and socially into
the United States) and the southern response
Your presentation will include three different elements, each highlighting a different
aspect of this document.
I. Visual Presentation: Establishing Context—You will create a visual
presentation – a powerpoint, a series of posters, or other visual
demonstration— that presents the historical background surrounding document.
Your presentation will answer questions such as:
What led to this document? How is it a part of this this historical moment? What are
the events taking place in the war at this time that relate to this document? Your
visual presentation should not only list and explain these events, but should also
lead the class to understanding what the document’s practical political and social
goals were as they relate the to these concrete events from history. Consult the key
questions we have prepared for your group. Be sure each of these questions is
answered thoroughly in your presentation.
II. Annotated Document / Close Reading Handout: Enhancing
Comprehension—You will also prepare a close reading guide of this document, so
that your readers may better understand the document. The close reading will
include two parts.
First, you will turn in an “annotated” or “reader’s guide” version of the document.
Your annotations should clarify difficult words, historical figures or events, and any
historically specific language or ideas that cloud the meaning of the document for
modern readers. This version should be annotated to include footnotes, a glossary,
and/or a vocabulary key. Second, you will attach a one-page handout that outlines
some of the key ideas and highlights important passages.
III. Harkness Dicsussion: Meaning, Themes, Causes and Effects – Lastly, your
group will prepare and lead a Harkness Discussion on the document and its place
in the Civil War and American history. You will prepare a list of at least ten
discussion questions that should lead that class to understand the document’s
main ideas, themes, and role in America’s evolving identity. Your aim should be to
write questions that guide the class to understand not only what the document says,
but what its subtext is, how it affected the course of the war and the future of the
county. What changes did it make to America’s cultural identity? You will also
prepare extended answers to these questions, which you will turn into Mr. Drogos.
Annotated Bibliography – In addition to these three parts of your presentation,
your group will also prepare an annotated bibliography which includes—at
minimum-- four sources: two print sources, two online sources. This does not
include the primary source document you are studying.
PRESENTATION DATES:
April 23: First Inaugural Address
April 27: Emancipation Proclamation
April 30: Gettysburg Address
May 4: Second Inaugural Address
May 7: The 13th Amendment
**** YOUR CIVIL WAR TEST WILL OCCUR ON MAY 11 ****