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Civil War Beginnings Worksheet

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Civil War Beginnings Worksheet

Civil War Beginnings Worksheet

Civil War era newspaper and documents

📚 Part 1: Overview of Civil War Causes

1. Complete the following sentences about the three major causes of the Civil War:

Political Causes: The main political tensions included debates over _____________ rights and the expansion of _____________ into new territories. Louisiana was particularly affected because _____________.

Economic Causes: The South relied heavily on _____________ agriculture, while the North focused on _____________. New Orleans was important economically because of its _____________.

Social Causes: Different groups had conflicting views about _____________ and _____________. The _____________ movement grew stronger in the North.

2. Circle the correct answer: Which of these best describes Louisiana's position before the Civil War?

A free state in the North

A slave state in the South

A territory not yet a state

A neutral border state

📜 Part 2: Primary Source Analysis

3. For each primary source excerpt, answer the guiding questions:

Source A: "The people of Louisiana must stand firm in defending our way of life and the rights of our state against Northern interference." - New Orleans newspaper editorial, 1860

Who is the author? _________________________________

What is the main message? _________________________________

What tensions do you see? _________________________________

Source B: "I have seen families torn apart, sold like property. This cannot continue in a nation that claims to value freedom." - Louisiana abolition supporter, 1859

Who is the author? _________________________________

What is the main message? _________________________________

What tensions do you see? _________________________________

4. Check all the perspectives represented in these sources:

Pro-slavery supporters

Abolitionists

States' rights advocates

Federal government supporters

📊 Part 3: Graphic Organizer - Categorizing Causes

5. Sort the following causes into the correct categories. Write the letter of each cause in the appropriate box:

Causes to categorize:

A. Debate over slavery in new territories

B. Southern plantation economy vs. Northern factories

C. Abolition movement growing stronger

D. States' rights vs. federal power

E. New Orleans port trade conflicts

F. Different cultural identities developing

Political Causes: ________________
Economic Causes: ________________
Social Causes: ________________

✍️ Part 4: Writing with Louisiana Context

6. Choose ONE cause from your graphic organizer and write a paragraph explaining how it contributed to the Civil War. Include specific details about Louisiana.

Sentence starters for support:

• One important cause of the Civil War was...

• This affected Louisiana because...

• Evidence from the sources shows...

• This tension grew stronger when...

🤔 Part 5: Reflection and Exit Ticket

7. Which cause do you think was most important in leading to the Civil War and why? Use evidence from today's sources.
Circle your choice:

Political causes were most important

Economic causes were most important

Social causes were most important

Explain your choice using evidence:

8. What is one new question you have about the Civil War causes after today's lesson?

📖 Vocabulary Support

9. Match each vocabulary word with its definition:
1. Sectionalism
2. Abolition
3. States' Rights
4. Plantation
A. Large farm using enslaved labor
B. Ending slavery completely
C. Loyalty to one region over the country
D. Belief states should have more power

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