📖

A House Divided: Lincoln's Election and Southern Secession

The Road to Civil War

Day 35of 180
Week 7of 36
35Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand the political tensions leading to the Civil War

2

Analyze how division can harm a nation

3

Recognize the importance of unity and reconciliation

📖 Scripture Connection

Matthew 12:25

“Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.”

— Matthew 12:25 (WEB)

Jesus' words directly relate to the national division before the Civil War

📦 Materials Needed

  • Large paper map of United States (1860)
  • Colored markers
  • Timeline materials
  • Scissors
  • Glue sticks
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Begin with a brief dramatic reading of Lincoln's 'House Divided' speech, explaining the growing tensions between North and South

💭 Review Question: What do you think happens when people stop listening to each other?
2Teaching (15 min)

Explain the events leading to Lincoln's election and Southern states' secession, focusing on slavery, states' rights, and economic differences

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Lincoln's election was seen as a threat by Southern states
  • Slavery was the central issue dividing the nation
  • Southern states believed they had the right to leave the Union
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • Why was slavery such a difficult issue to resolve?
  • How might Christians have approached this conflict differently?
  • What does it mean to seek peace in difficult situations?
3Activity: Divided States Mapping Project (10 min)
hands-on

Students create a visual representation of the United States in 1860, showing free and slave states

📝 Instructions:
  1. Use large paper map
  2. Color free states blue
  3. Color slave states red
  4. Mark key events and dates
  5. Create a legend explaining the colors
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Pre-color sections for younger students

Challenge: Add additional historical details and annotations

4Closing (5 min)

Reflect on how understanding history can help us prevent future divisions

📝 Review Questions:
  • What caused the division between North and South?
  • How can we learn to respect different perspectives?
  • What does biblical love look like in times of disagreement?
🙏 Prayer:

Lord, help us to seek understanding and peace, even when we disagree. Guide us to treat all people with love and respect.

Coming up: Next week, we'll explore the first battles of the Civil War

💎 Memory Verse

Matthew 12:25

“Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.”

— Matthew 12:25 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Division and Unity Game: Students form two groups and try to complete a task, demonstrating how division creates weakness

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

This lesson explores the complex political tensions preceding the Civil War

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Emphasize empathy and understanding
  • Discuss how Christians are called to love across differences
  • Help child understand historical context without modern judgment
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might find it difficult to understand complex historical conflicts

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Ability to explain basic reasons for national division

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Research a historical figure from this period
  • Write a letter from the perspective of someone living in 1860
  • Create a timeline of events leading to the Civil War

Ready for Tomorrow?

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