A Teacher's Guide to Lincoln

Common-Core Aligned Teacher Materials and a Sample Chapter

Harold Holzer, Amy Jurskis

• Publisher: Newmarket for It Books
• Year: 2014
• ISBN:
  9780062374257
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: American Civil War History
• Index: History

For teachers

We know that the Common Core State Standards are encouraging you to reevaluate the books that you assign to your students. To help you decide which books are right for your classroom, each free ebook in this series contains a Common Core–aligned teaching guide and a sample chapter.

This free teaching guide for Lincoln: How Abraham Lincoln Ended Slavery in America by Harold Holzer is designed to help you put the new Common Core State Standards into practice.

"The book is a delight, written for young people who may be discovering Lincoln and the Civil War for the first time... This may be the book that brings along a whole new generation of Lincoln fans."— Washington Post

How did President Abraham Lincoln come to believe that slavery was "morally wrong, " and that Congress needed to pass a law to abolish it once and for all? What did he do in January 1865—three months before he was assassinated—to ensure passage of the Thirteenth Amendment?

This fast-paced, riveting book answers these questions and more as it tells the story of Lincoln's life and times from his upbringing in Kentucky and Illinois, through his work as a lawyer and congressman, to his candidacies and victory in two Presidential elections. It also describes Lincoln's duties in the Civil War as Commander-in-Chief, his actions as President, and his relationships with his family, his political allies and rivals, and the public who voted for and against him. Harold Holzer makes an important era in American history come alive for readers of all ages.

An official companion to Steven Spielberg's Oscar Award-winning film Lincoln, the book also includes thirty historical photographs, a chronology, a cast of characters, texts of selected Lincoln writings and speeches, a bibliography, and a foreword by the author about his experience working as a consultant on the movie.

Teacher’s Guide

A NOTE TO TEACHERS

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Harold Holzer’s Lincoln: How Abraham Lincoln Ended Slavery in America was written as a companion to Steven Spielberg’s award-winning 2012 film, Lincoln. While Holzer’s book provides a more comprehensive biography of Abraham Lincoln, examining the text in conjunction with Spielberg’s film will help students think critically about the way that information is presented in different mediums. Teachers are encouraged to use the book as a compliment to the film, and this guide includes prompts that will require students to view selected scenes from the film and discuss the way that both Holzer and Spielberg have interpreted primary and secondary sources related to the life of Abraham Lincoln. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.7

The questions and activities in this teaching guide were written to support standards-based instruction. Lincoln meets the standard for Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity for grades 6-8. It is an excellent anchor text for both Language Arts and Social Studies. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.10 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.10

A complete list of the Common Core State Standards can be found at http://www.corestandards.org/the-standards.

This Teacher’s Guide is divided into three sections. The first, “Guided Reading Questions,” will help students with reading comprehension and analysis. These questions can be used as a guide for written responses or class discussion. Lists of vocabulary words are included with the questions for each chapter. The second section, “Writing and Speaking Prompts,” consists of analytical writing and discussion prompts and is subdivided into genres based on the writing standards. These topics may require short research activities. The final section, “Research Topics,” requires students to conduct and synthesize research on topics related to the novel. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.8.10

BEFORE YOU READ

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Have students read Harold Holzer’s Introduction (pages ix-xi) and consider the question that the historians asked Spielberg about the way that he would film the Gettysburg Address. Ask students to examine the text of Lincoln’s speech, which can be found online at the Library of Congress. Before showing a clip from the movie, place students in groups and have them discuss how they would film this speech. After they have shared their responses, play the first 6 minutes of Lincoln. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.8.1

Discuss the following questions:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.6 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.8.3

• Were you surprised by the way that Spielberg incorporated Lincoln’s most famous speech into his film?

• What statement do you think the director made by having Lincoln’s words spoken back to him rather than spoken by him?

• What is significant about the setting of this scene?

• What is significant about the three characters that recite the Gettysburg Address?

PROLOGUE: A “KING’S CURE”

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Vocabulary: abolish, inauguration, gaunt, ratification, servitude, scraggly, emancipation, ungracious, petty

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.4a-d CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.4

1. Based on its root words, what do you think the word “amendment” means? Why are amendments necessary? CCSS.ELA.Literacy.RI.8.5b

2. What was the purpose of the Thirteenth Amendment? CCSS.ELA.Literacy.RI.8.1 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.2

3. How many times did Lincoln try to get the amendment passed? CCSS.ELA.Literacy.RI.8.1 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.2

4. Explain the process for passing an amendment to the Constitution. CCSS.ELA.Literacy.RI.8.2 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.3

5. Why was the Thirteenth Amendment necessary even after the Emancipation Proclamation had been passed? (View chapter four of the film Lincoln). CCSS.ELA.Literacy.RI.8.1 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.7

6. What do you think Lincoln meant when he called the amendment “a King’s cure for all the evils” (p. 6)? CCSS.ELA.Literacy.RI.8.4 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.4

7. Why do you think Lincoln added his signature to the Thirteenth Amendment? CCSS.ELA.Literacy.RI.8.1 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.1

CHAPTER ONE: THE MAKING OF A LIBERATOR

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Vocabulary: glimpse, dictate, devour, bunglingly, liberty, cargo, dazzled, consent, fury, recount, shackle, saddled, militia, enlist, shoddy, despondent, mourning, deficient CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.4a-d CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.4

1. What did Lincoln’s father teach him about slavery? As he was growing up, how much interaction did Lincoln have with slaves or free people of color? CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.3 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.1

2. On page 10, Holzer writes that Lincoln’s father “moved his family northwest to the state of Indiana, mostly in search of better land and more opportunity, but perhaps to get farther away from slavery as well.” What part of this statement is objective? What part is subjective? CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.6 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.8

3. Describe Lincoln’s education. At what point in his life did he begin working? What type of jobs did he have? Why did he start to work? CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.2 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.2

4. Why was Lincoln’s stepmother, Sarah, such an important figure in his life? CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.3 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.1

5. Why do you think the story of George Washington resonated with Abraham Lincoln? What is your favorite book? Why does it appeal to you? CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.1 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.1

6. Describe Lincoln’s first experience witnessing slavery. How did it affect him? (For comparison, view chapter 14 of the film Lincoln.) CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI. 8.7 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.7

7. What career did Lincoln decide to pursue? Why was this a good fit for him? CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.1 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.1

8. Describe Lincoln’s experience serving in the military. Why did he enlist? CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.2 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.2

9. What was the first elected office that Lincoln ran for? What was the outcome of his first campaign? CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.1 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.1

10. Describe Lincoln’s experiences with women. What qualities do you think he was looking for in a potential mate? Why did he initially have difficulty finding a wife? CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.3 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.2

11. What protest did Lincoln sign during his first term as a legislator? What did he believe about slavery? CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.1 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.1

CHAPTER TWO: ROMANCE, LAW, AND POLITICS

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Vocabulary: droll, deft, beau, homely, courting, secluded, console, ruthless, unrelenting, bondage, dislodge, vicious, ardent, gallant CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.4a-d CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.4

1. Describe Mary Ann Todd. How did Lincoln meet her? Who was his rival for her affection? CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.1 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.1

2. Explain how the climate and geography of the North and South impacted each region’s dependence on and acceptance of slavery. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.3 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.2

3. What did Mary Ann Todd and Abraham Lincoln have in common? CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.3 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.2

4. What did Mary Ann Todd believe about slavery? How did her childhood experiences impact her view of this issue? CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.2 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.1

5. What political party did Mary and Lincoln favor? CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.1 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.1

6. Find the example of foreshadowing on page 29. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.4

CHAPTER THREE: THE LINCOLNS GO TO WASHINGTON

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Vocabulary: livery, sentiment, sprightly, inhumane, vividly, fugitive, deport

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.4a-d CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.4

1. What detail suggests that, at this point in his life, Lincoln did not violently object to slavery in the South? CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.1 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.1

2. Describe the role that slavery played in Washington. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.2 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.2

3. Why did the end of the Mexican War present an opportunity for proslavery senators and representatives? What bill did David Wilmot introduce as result? Was his bill passed? CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.3 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.2

4. What law did Lincoln propose during his first term as a congressman? Did his law pass? CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.1 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.1

5. Why did Lincoln leave congress after one term? What personal tragedy did he suffer at the end his first term? CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8...

Table of contents

• Contents
• Sample Material
• Teacher’s Guide
• Buy the Book
• About the Authors
• Copyright
• About the Publisher