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Lesson Plan
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: A War to End Slavery: John Wilkes Booth and Assassination of Lincoln

For Teachers 6th - 8th
A lesson plan from the producers of the 16-episode PBS series "Freedom: A History of US" that examines the factors that led John Wilkes Booth to assassinate President Lincoln. Also involves comparing and contrasting Lincoln's and Andrew...
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: Lincoln vs. Douglas [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
The Licoln-Douglas debates pitted two great speakers who were espousing different courses for the country in regard to the issue of slavery. Read a snopsis of their seven debates and see what four major issues they debated. [pdf]
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Lesson Plan
US Mint

U.s. Mint: One Cent Program: Lincoln 2.0 [Pdf]

For Teachers 4th - 6th
In this four-part lesson, students identify and analyze the challenges that Abe Lincoln faced during his Presidency, including keeping the Union intact.
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: 13th Amendment to the u.s. Constitution: Abolition of Slavery

For Students 9th - 10th
Take a look at an image of the constitutional amendment that put an end to slavery in the United States. Interactive image is accompanied by an overview of the amendment's inception and adoption, as well as document transcript.
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The Lincoln Douglas Debates

For Students 5th - 8th
The Lincoln-Douglas debates in 1858 exemplified the rift in the nation concerning the issue of slavery and who should be able to determine whether states were free or slave. Read about this war of ideas that moved from the stage in...
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Handout
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Ap Us History: 1844 1877: The Civil War: Emancipation Proclamation

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses the background to the Emancipation Proclamation and how Abraham Lincoln came to support the abolition of slavery and the difficulties that were encountered around this issue. Explains that it did not apply to all slaves as...
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Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Peace Democrats, Copperheads, and Draft Riots

For Students 9th - 10th
Abraham Lincoln did not have universal backing in the conduct of the Civil War. Read about the opposition, mainly from the Democrats, who opposed emancipation of the slaves and waging a war to reunited the country.
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Lesson Plan
White House Historical Association

White House Historical Association: Thence Forward, and Forever Free

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Informational text and lesson plan for grades 9-12 tracing Abraham Lincoln's battle against slavery from the time he was in the Illinois State Legislature through his presidency and writing of the Emancipation Proclamation.
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Handout
US Department of State

Bureau of International Information Programs: History Outline: Sectionalism

For Students 9th - 10th
Article reviews several conditions of American society that sowed the seeds of civil war, particularly slavery and sectional conflict.
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Unit Plan
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: Freedom: A History of Us: A Fatal Contradiction Webisode 5

For Students 9th - 10th
Webisode 5 - A Fatal Contradiction. The history of the United States is presented in a series of webisodes, within each are a number of segments.Included are links to lesson plans, teacher guides, resources, activities, and tools.
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Website
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: Slavery and the Making of America: Freedom & Emancipation

For Students 9th - 10th
Using primary documents, oral histories and other historical resources, learn about the African American reaction to emancipation and to events from the Reconstruction period following the Civil War.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Clip Art Etc: Abraham Lincoln

For Students 9th - 10th
Abraham Lincoln, former United States President, involved in slavery issues and the Civil War.-E. Benjamin Andrews 1895
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Article
Siteseen

Siteseen: American Historama: Emancipation Proclamation Facts

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides an overview and ten facts about Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, a war measure freeing the slaves in states still in rebellion against the Union.
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Primary
University of Oklahoma

Chronology of u.s. Historical Documents: The Emancipation Proclamation 1864

For Students 9th - 10th
Here you can find the full text of the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by Abraham Lincoln in September 1862, and passed into law on January 1, 1863.
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Activity
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Detective Allan Pinkerton

For Students 3rd - 8th
Allan Pinkerton saved Abraham Lincoln from an assassination attempt, started the United States Secret Service and helped slaves seek freedom via the Underground Railroad. Learn about his early life in Scotland and view a photograph of...
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: The Civil War Begins [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
The election of 1860 showed the deep divisions that split the country. With four candidates representing four very different approaches to the issue of slavery, the outcome resulted in the secession of South Carolina, followed eventually...
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Website
Other

Southern Illinois History: Homepage

For Students 9th - 10th
A good reference page, even if it limits itself to Southern Illinois. Good information on slavery in the Land of Lincoln, and the struggle between kidnappers and underground railroad. Site has a search function and plenty of photos.
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: Emancipation Proclamation (1863)

For Students 9th - 10th
Image of handwritten copy of Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, accompanied by an explanation of the speech's purpose, impact, and role in American history.
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Website
Other

Juneteenth.com: History of Juneteenth

For Students 9th - 10th
Juneteenth.com discusses what Juneteenth is, its history, and its celebration. Content includes a look at why June 19, 1865, signifies the end of slavery in America, as opposed to Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863.
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PPT
Tom Richey

Tom Richey: The Emancipation Proclamation

For Students 9th - 10th
An engaging PowerPoint presentation provides insight into the events which led to ending slavery in the United States. The slideshow illustrates President Lincoln's approach to the Emancipation Proclamation.
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Handout
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: A Divided Nation

For Students 9th - 10th
This page from the American Revolution Project of the University of Groningen discusses how the 1850s were a time of conflicting ideas between North and South regarding the expansion of slavery. Scroll down to the third paragraph and...
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Primary
Other

Karpeles: Emancipation Proclamation Amendment to the Constitution

For Students 9th - 10th
A copy and transcription of the 13th Amendment which ended slavery. The sidebar gives a brief overview of emancipation and what led to this amendment.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Clip Art Etc: Abraham Lincoln

For Students 9th - 10th
The sixteenth president of the United States, born in Hardin county, Kentucky, Feb. 12, 1809; died April 15, 1865. He was a great opposer of slavery.