📖

The Slavery Question

The Growing Divide: North and South

Day 24of 180
Week 5of 36
35Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand the historical context of slavery expansion in new territories

2

Analyze the Missouri Compromise and Compromise of 1850

3

Recognize the moral complexity of historical conflicts

4

Develop critical thinking about justice and human dignity

📖 Scripture Connection

Galatians 3:28

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

— Galatians 3:28 (WEB)

Demonstrates God's view of human equality regardless of social status

📦 Materials Needed

  • Large map of United States (1850)
  • Colored markers
  • Compromise comparison worksheet
  • Sticky notes
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Begin with a brief prayer asking God for wisdom to understand complex historical issues. Explain that today we'll explore how different regions of the United States struggled with the issue of slavery.

💭 Review Question: What do you know about slavery in early American history?
2Teaching (15 min)

Discuss how the United States was expanding westward and the tensions this created about whether new territories would allow slavery. Explain the Missouri Compromise and Compromise of 1850 as attempts to prevent conflict.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Territories created new challenges about slavery's expansion
  • Both compromises tried to balance free and slave states
  • Each compromise was a temporary solution to a deep moral problem
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • Why do you think people disagreed about slavery?
  • How might Christians view the idea of owning another person?
  • What makes some compromises good and others harmful?
3Activity: Compromise Mapping (10 min)
hands-on

Students will work in groups to map out the free and slave territories according to the Missouri Compromise and Compromise of 1850.

📝 Instructions:
  1. Divide into small groups
  2. Use large map and colored markers
  3. Mark free states in blue, slave states in red
  4. Draw boundary lines from each compromise
  5. Discuss what each compromise meant
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Teacher provides more guided mapping

Challenge: Students research additional details about each compromise

4Closing (5 min)

Reflect on how Christians are called to see all people as equal in God's eyes.

📝 Review Questions:
  • What did you learn about compromises?
  • How can we treat all people with respect today?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, help us understand that all people are created in Your image and deserve to be treated with love and dignity.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll explore how different views about states' rights contributed to national tensions

💎 Memory Verse

Galatians 3:28

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

— Galatians 3:28 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Human Chain of Unity - Students link hands while reciting verse

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

This lesson explores sensitive historical topics about slavery and national compromise

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Be sensitive to potential emotional responses
  • Emphasize human dignity
  • Connect historical lessons to current understanding of equality
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might find it difficult to understand historical context of slavery

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Empathy, critical thinking about complex historical issues

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Write a journal entry from perspective of a child during this time period
  • Create a timeline of compromises
  • Research local history related to slavery and freedom

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 25 →Back to History & Social Studies