Individual Lesson View
Kansas-Nebraska Act and Lincoln-Douglas Debates
From: EDSITEment!
Grade Level: HS, (College)
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 3-4 Class Periods for All Activities
Length of Reading: Pages
A House Dividing,
Lesson 3:
The Kansas-Nebraska Act
of 1854,
Popular Sovereignty and the Political Polarization Over Slavery
Students check out an interactive map, documentary clip, and primary sources. Each comes with a graphic organizer. Then they stage a mock Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
Activity 1: Students analyze an interactive map showing changes between 1820 and 1854 and fill in a worksheet asking very good questions.
Activity 2: Students watch a 3 min History Channel vid about the Lincoln-Douglas debates and answer questions.
Part 1: Students read arguments by Lincoln and by Douglas. Be sure to click on the PDF instead of the other links.
Part 2: Students answer questions either in class or as homework.
Part 3: Students are divided into groups to stage a mock Lincoln-Douglass debate.
Part 4: Discussion.
image: “Kansas – Col Sumner arriving at Constitution Hall. Col. Sumner dispersing the people assembled before the legislative hall” in Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper July 26, 1856. Wikimedia Commons.https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1856_Kansas_Col._Sumner_arriving_at_Constitution_Hall_Frank_Leslies_Illustrated_Newspaper_July26.jpg.
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Grade Level: HS, (College)
- HS=High School
- Though HS is the specified grade level, this lesson would be excellent for college students as well.
Remote Ready: With Modifications
- Links to the film clip, interactive map, and reading assignments can easily be emailed or posted for students
- Group work (pairs) might be difficult, though students could have a written debate on your LMS. If you do the debate via video conference, please let us know how it turns out.
Primary Source Icon
This means that this activity utilizes primary sources
Group Work Icon
This activity calls for working in pairs, a group, and/or having a class discussion
Map Icon
This activity asks students to examine map(s) (interactive or standard)
Movie Icon
This means that this activity calls for showing a film, clip, and/or documentary
Computer Icon
This means that a computer is required for this activity. We will NOT use this icon when print-outs are possible.
Computer Icon
This activity involves a debate
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