LESSON TITLE: The Election of 1860

Name: Lauren Marquart Grade: 8 Date: 4/15/19

Alex Lotzman Subject Area: U.S Time Duration:

History 30 minutes

The Content:

1. CA Content Standards:

8.10.4 Discuss Abraham Lincoln’s presidency and his significant writings and speeches
and their relationship to the Declaration of Independence, such as his “House Divided”
speech (1858), Gettysburg Address (1863), Emancipation Proclamation (1863), and
inaugural addresses (1861 and 1865)
Common Core:
1. Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources.
2. Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an
accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.
6. Identify aspects of a text that reveal an author’s point of view or purpose (e.g.,
loaded language, inclusion or avoidance of particular facts).
7. Integrate visual information (e.g., in charts, graphs, photographs, videos, or
maps) with other information in print and digital texts.

Essential Question: What does the Election of 1860 tell us about the divisions in the
United States?

2. Objectives:
3. Materials: Abraham Lincoln’s inaugural addresses of:
1861 http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/lincoln1.asp
Give Me Liberty! By Eric Foner

4. Engaging Students: Various questions throughout the lesson.

 5. Instruction: Start with share with the class about what they learned from last class.
Review:
Kansas Nebraska Act
● Relied on the idea on popular sovereignty to which the state would
be able to choose whether or not they would have slavery.
● Resulted in the repeal of the Missouri Compromise and the
formation of the Republican Party.
Election of 1860:
-Northern wing of the democratic party favored Stephen Douglas, but he did not
appeal to voters in the deep south due to his opposition of slavery in all territories.
-Due to this, southern democrats nominated John C. Breckinridge of Kentucky.
-Union party was created which believed in keeping the constitution the way it is
(aka with slavery). Nominated John Bell of Tennessee.
-Lincoln failed to acquire even one vote from ten Southern states.
-Population in the North gave Lincoln the electoral college.
-Lincoln elected the 16th President of the United States.
Background:
-Born in Kentucky 1809.
-Came into politics at the age of 21.
-Was willing to compromise with the South.
-Opposed the spread of slavery to new territories.
- “ I Hate slavery as much as any abolitionist.” “but I bite my lip and keep silent.”
Secession:
-Southerners feared the spread Northern ideas.
-By the time Lincoln took office, seven states seceded from the Union. South
Carolina included. (Highest percentage of slaves.)
-Confederate States of America.
-Denied any intention of interfering with slaves.
Inaugural Address:
-“I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of
slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have
no inclination to do so.”
War Begins:
-Lincoln does what he can to ensure that he would not lose more states to
succession.
-The Civil War begins at Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861.
6. Guided Practice:
Groups will be assigned to the class
Each group will be assigned a presidential candidate from the Election of 1860(Lincoln,
Bell, Douglas, or Breckinridge).
Your group will produce a poster promoting your candidate and his views.
*Does not need to include a portrait of your candidate but does need to include
candidate’s name.
*Create a slogan based on your knowledge of the candidate’s views.
*Must use color!
*You will have 20 minutes to complete poster.

Examples:
 7. Closure:
SNOWSTORM!
Ask essential question to the class. Then the class writes their responses on a sheet of
paper. Crinkle the paper and toss in the air. Students pick up another classmates snowball and
reads to the instructor that person’s response.

8. Independent Practice:
Use the internet and your text to locate information to complete the following chart about the
election of 1860
(Website on Election for Student Use) https://www.britannica.com/event/United-States-
presidential-election-of-1860
Political Party Political Experience Position on Slavery Region of Support

Abraham Lincoln

Stephen A. Douglas

John C. Breckinridge

John Bell