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1856-1865 – Abolitionists and the Civil War
Lesson 4:
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Lesson
Handouts
Academic Standards
Philanthropy Framework
6th-8th Grade
Subjects:

Language Arts, Library / Technology and Social Studies

Key Words/Concepts click to view
ELA: Uncle Tom's Cabin; Author's Style/Purpose; Historical Fiction; Presentations; Research; Speaking
PHIL: Human Rights; Minorities; Philanthropic Act; Time/Talent/Treasure
SOC: 10 genOn; Abolition; Amendments to Constitution; Civil War/Reconstruction (1850-1877); Geography; Slavery

Purpose:

Using literature and research, learners will identify acts of philanthropy that occurred during the Civil War era.

Duration:

Four Fifty-Minute Class Periods

Objectives:

The learner will:

  • analyze the impact of literature in the abolitionist movement.
  • describe how the geographic concept of “location” affected runaways and the Underground Railroad.
  • explain individual acts of philanthropy during the Civil War period.
  • list protections granted by the Reconstruction Amendments to the Constitution.

Materials:

  • The video, Uncle Tom's Cabin (see Bibliographical References )
  • Reconstruction Amendments ( Attachment One )
Handout 1
Reconstruction Amendments

Instructional Procedure(s):

Anticipatory Set:

Put the word “abolitionism” on the chalkboard. Ask the learners to explain what it means. If they can, have the learners identify any persons who were known as abolitionists and describe how they tried to end slavery.

  • Go over the following terms to provide background information for the video:
  • Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 : a federal law requiring state and city authorities, as well as ordinary citizens, to assist in the capture and return of enslaved persons who were runaways.
  • Underground Railroad : a well-organized series of routes and stopovers (stations) leading north to Canada for runaways.
  • Harriet Beecher Stowe : author of Uncle Tom's Cabin , a worldwide best-selling book which highlighted the evils of slavery.
  • On a map or globe, locate Canada, Kentucky and Ohio. Ask the learners to make inferences about why these locations were important to runaways in the story.
  • Show the video, Uncle Tom's Cabin . Discuss whether the author achieved her purpose of bringing the “peculiar institution” to the viewer's (reader's) attention. List rights that were not granted to enslaved persons. Discuss who could be considered a philanthropist in the story by giving of their time, talent or treasure to come to another's aid.
  • Distribute Reconstruction Amendments ( Attachment One ). Read the excerpts of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments out loud. Let the learners work in small teams to fill in the worksheet as they did in Lesson Three: The Bill of Rights . Report the findings. Explain that the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments have been significant in American history past the time of Reconstruction.
  • Have the learners select and research one of the following (paying special attention to their philanthropic contributions): Abolitionists, Underground Railroad, William Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglass, Wendell Phillips, Lucretia Mott, John Brown, Sojourner Truth, Emancipation Proclamation or Clara Barton. [Teacher's Note: Add other names as needed.] Share the information as oral reports.

Assessment:

The worksheet and researched oral report will serve as an assessment of learning.

Cross-Curriculum Extensions:

Students may use the Internet to go to the National Geographic Interactive website of the Underground Railroad. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/railroad/j1.html

Bibliographical References:

National Geographic. The Underground Railroad interactive website. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/railroad/j1.html

Uncle Tom's Cabin . VHS. Stan Lathan, Director. Republic Studios, Dec. 18, 2001. ASIN: 0782007112

Lesson Developed By:

Steve Hicks
Eaton Intermediate School District
Charlotte, MI 48813

Handouts:

Handout 1Print Handout 1

Reconstruction Amendments


Directions: In the right-hand column, use your own words to describe the protections granted by these amendments to the Constitution.


Amendment

Protections

Amendment XIII: (Ratified Dec. 6, 1865)

Section 1.

Neither Slavery, nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.


Amendment XIV: (Ratified July 9, 1868)

Section 1.

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.


Amendment XV: (Ratified Feb. 3, 1870)

Section 1.

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color or previous condition of servitude.


Philanthropy Framework:

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