The Origins of the American Civil War 1820–61

Teaching Activities

Teaching activity

Give every student in the class the grid below. Column 1 contains causes of the American Civil War. In column 2, students should explain why each cause was important in causing civil war. In the final column, they should write down a number which places the causes in order of importance: 1 designates most important etc.

Causes of the American Civil War	Explain why this event was important in causing the Civil War	How important? Write down a number against each cause. 1 would signify the most important cause and so on.
Election of Abraham Lincoln as President in 1860
John Brown’s raid, 1859
The Dred Scott case, 1857
The foundation of the Republican Party, 1854
The Kansas–Nebraska Act, 1854