Activity Overview
Students will investigate selected Antebellum events that divided the North and South over the issue of slavery. They will be placed into groups of five, independently research their assigned event, and then share their findings with their group.
Before the Activity
See the attached Activity PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity.
Print the appropriate pages from the Activity for your class.
Install the NoteFolio(tm) App on the students' graphing calculators following the attached instructions.
Make sure each student has a TI-83 Plus or TI-84 Plus graphing calculator loaded with the NoteFolio(tm) application. Divide the class into groups of five students each. Assign each student a number from one to five within his/her group.
During the Activity
Distribute the appropriate pages from the Activity to your class
Follow the procedures outlined in the Activity
Students will:
Predict the effects that selected Antebellum events had on the North and South.
Compose a letter critically examining an event from a Northern perspective.
Analyze primary source data to make comparisons about the three regions of the South.
Assess statistical data to make inferences about how the different regions of the South viewed the issues of slavery and secession.
Synthesize and evaluate information in order to develop a position statement on secession from the Union.
After the Activity
Collect the students' letters. Debrief students on the activity by reviewing and discussing how the Antebellum events affected the North and South. Ask students to describe the sequence of events and their relation to one another. Encourage students to speculate on how these events could have contributed to the secession of the South.