Graphic Organizer for: Who is responsible for the Civil War?

Write a 5 paragraph letter from the perspective that you took in the activity (either northern or southern) in which you accuse the other side of causing the Civil War.

Include the following terms:Use a letter format:

  • Fugitive Slave Law
  • Kansas-Nebraska Act
  • Mexican Cession and Wilmot Proviso
  • Dred Scottdecision

Use the words below to show how the North and South were different

  • Unlike
  • However
  • But
  • Yet
  • In contrast
/
  • Differences between
  • As opposed to
  • Whereas
  • On the other hand
  • A distinction between

Paragraph One: Introduction

Step One: State your accusation (claim). Then write your body paragraphs.

The (South or North) is responsible for causing the Civil War.

(Circle one)

Step Two:After you write the body paragraphs,change it into a complete thesis statement. A complete thesis statement includes the claim and introduces the reasons.

The (South or North) is responsible for causing the Civil War because

(Circle one)

Paragraph Two: Body Paragraph

Describe your position on slavery and the reasons for your position.

The (South or North) want to (preserve or end) slavery because

(Circle one)(Circle one)

however, I want to (preserve or end) slavery because

(Circle one)

Paragraph Three: Body Paragraph

Describe the Missouri Compromise and the reasons it was difficult to reach (and keep) the compromise

The (North or South)made it difficult to reach the Missouri Compromise because

(Circle one)

We were only able to reach a compromise because

Once this compromise had been reached, the (North or South) made it difficult

(Circle one)

to keep the compromise because

Paragraph Four: Body Paragraph

Describe the Compromise of 1850 and why it was difficult to reach (and keep) the compromise

The Compromise of 1850 was difficult to reach because (Northerners or

(Circle one)

Southerners)

In addition,

Now that you have completed the body paragraphs, you can go back to the introductory paragraph and add the reasons to the claim to make a complete thesis statement (Step Two.)

After you have finished the first four paragraphs, exchange your letter with a student who has written from the opposite perspective. (For example, if you wrote a northerner’s letter, exchange your letter with a southerner.)

  • While reading the opposing letter, take notes on the reasons presented in the left column below.
  • Return the letters.
  • Then write evidence you would use to refute/rebut each reason in the right column.

Ideas in opposition letter / Evidence and reasoning against those ideas

Paragraph Five: Conclusion

Use your notes to mention (acknowledge) the ideas of the opposing position;then argue against those ideas; and, finally, remind your reader of your accusation.

While you may think that

you need to realize that

Even though you believe that

the (North, South), without a doubt, is responsible for the Civil War that has now

begun.

1

8.21_Modified Processing_Graphic Organizer with Sentence Starters

BJD 3/10