Objectives

Worksheet Description

This worksheet presents students with a nuanced statement about the Emancipation Proclamation’s role in altering the perceived objectives of the Civil War. It acknowledges a common perception that the proclamation shifted the war’s focus from preserving the Union to addressing the issue of slavery. However, it also reminds students that slavery was already a significant factor leading to the Civil War. The sheet provides lines for students to elaborate on this idea, urging them to contemplate and articulate the intricate relationship between the proclamation and the broader causes of the Civil War.

The aim of this worksheet is to foster critical thinking and promote a deeper understanding of the Civil War’s underlying causes. By challenging a simplified narrative, students are encouraged to recognize the multifaceted motivations behind the war and the Emancipation Proclamation’s place within that context. It seeks to cultivate analytical writing skills by prompting students to deconstruct and explain complex historical topics. Ultimately, the exercise aims to instill a nuanced perspective on the interplay between major events and the broader historical contexts in which they occur.