The Union is Dissolved

This week has been one with far less snow and John Brown than previous weeks. We instead focused on the thoughts and words of politicians, newspapers, and regular people following the raid at Harpers Ferry and along the path to the Civil War that became inevitable. 

On Monday, we looked at the different responses to John Brown's 1859 raid. We began with the varied reactions of those in the North. The support of abolitionists as well as the derision of those who felt Brown was a "madman" and his plan "insane". Then, we looked at the south and why their response to the raid was not varied. Finally, we read quotes from politicians and discussed how the coming 1860 election and the desire for votes might have impacted their public responses to John Brown.

On Tuesday we learned about the 1860 election and the split in the democratic party creating Northern and Southern candidates for president. We learned why Abraham Lincoln became the best candidate for the republican party due to his moderate views and finally why the Constitutional Union party was created and had really only one platform in the election.

Students were given time to review all of the candidates and their positions on key issues such as tariffs, the Homestead Act, and slavery. Then, they were given a fictional character profile that was impacted in some way to the events that were occuring in 1860. Some worried about war, some the expansion and abolition of slavery, others were concerned about high tariffs or no tariffs, while still others either wanted or detested the Homestead Act. Once they had identified the concerns of their character, students had to determine which candidate would best resolve those concerns. Finally, students were asked to vote 1860's style. If they were in the South they were not allowed to vote for Lincoln because he was not on the ballot. Each person had to sign the ballot for their candidate in order for it to be counted and they had to announce who they were voting for to the entire class.

On Wednesday, we learned the results of our election - Abraham Lincoln won with about 49% of the popular vote (we do not have an electoral college in the 5th grade). We compared our results to those of the real election of 1860 in which Lincoln also received less than 50% of the popular vote, though the necessary electoral votes to win by a significant margin.

With Lincoln elected, we turned our focus to the response of the nation, starting with the secession of South Carolina. We looked at the secession documents of the first seven states to leave the Union and three responses to their leaving, including a letter written by Robert E. Lee.

On Thursday, Fort Sumter was attacked, Lincoln requested volunteers to put down the rebellion, the former governor of Virginia tried to capture Harpers Ferry, and the Civil War began. 

Finally, on Friday, we discussed the Emancipation Proclamation. With no previous discussion, I read the Emancipation to the students and they were shocked (several were very unimpressed) to find that only enslaved people in the areas of open rebellion were freed. They questioned how Lincoln could free people in states that he had no control of and leave people enslaved in states where he did.

Then, students were asked to review background information about the creation of the document. I then asked if the background information changed their opinion, for some it did, others it did not.

Then, we watched a video to give further insight to Lincoln's thinking and reactions of the nation prior to the passage of the Emancipation Proclamation as well as images depicting Lincoln after the signing. Finally, students were asked, using all of the information presented, their thoughts on Lincoln and the impact of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Due to the snow, next week we have two more lessons in social studies before beginning third quarter science at the end of the week.