Students learn about the beginning of the Republican Party and why it was founded. They learn about Abraham Lincoln's role in the Party and how he rapidly rose to a position of leadership in the Republican Party. Then, students are asked to create a timeline of Lincoln's political career prior to his election to the presidency in 1860.
Students read background text about sectional divisions over slavery in the 1850s and how various anti-slavery parties combined to form the Republican Party. They examine a map of the 1856 presidential election and respond to a collaborative wall prompt describing what they observe about the distribution of Republican and Democratic states.
Teacher MovesDiscuss student observations about the 1856 election map, highlighting that Democratic support was concentrated in the South and that, despite having fewer states, Republican areas in the industrial North had comparable population to the agricultural South. Introduce the focus of the experience: the formation of the Republican Party, its positions on major issues, and Abraham Lincoln’s leadership within the party.
Students view a map of slave and free states in 1856 and read background text explaining how the Kansas-Nebraska Act opened western territories to slavery and helped catalyze the formation of the Republican Party. They use The Kansas-Nebraska Act, The Republican Party was founded on July 6th, 1854, and Republican Party (Ideological Roots section) to learn how the Act worked, why it angered many Northerners, and what broader issues united Republicans. Students post to a collaborative wall explaining the Kansas-Nebraska Act and how it led to the formation of the Republican Party, then complete a graphic organizer identifying major issues supported by the Republican Party.
Teacher MovesInvite several students to share their explanations of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, emphasizing that it allowed voters in new territories to decide on slavery, effectively overturning the Missouri Compromise’s restriction on slavery north of 36°30′. Clarify that Republicans feared the expansion of slavery into new territories and the resulting economic competition with slave labor, and reinforce key Republican positions students record in the organizer.
Students read about Abraham Lincoln’s early political career, his shift from the Whig Party to the Republican Party after the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and his rise as an outspoken Republican leader during the 1858 Illinois Senate race. Using The Lincoln-Douglas Debates, they learn more about the debates and each candidate’s stance on slavery and popular sovereignty. They complete a drag-and-drop activity matching positions on slavery, popular sovereignty, the Dred Scott decision, the Freeport Doctrine, and the 1858 election outcome to either Lincoln or Douglas. Students then read Lincoln’s “A house divided against itself cannot stand” quote and post to a wall explaining what they think Lincoln meant.
Teacher MovesReview student responses to the drag-and-drop activity to ensure they accurately distinguish Lincoln’s and Douglas’s positions. Share an exemplary interpretation of the “house divided” quote, explaining that the “house” represents the United States and that Lincoln believed the nation could not endure permanently half slave and half free—freedom and slavery could not coexist without threatening the survival of the country and its ideals.
Students conduct additional research on Abraham Lincoln’s political career before his 1860 presidential election using resources such as Pre-Presidential Political Career and Abraham Lincoln: Life Before the Presidency. They then create a timeline—on a digital canvas or on paper and uploaded—showing key events that contributed to Lincoln’s emergence as a prominent Republican leader.
Teacher MovesUse student responses to identify understandings and misconceptions, and to guide follow-up discussion.
Students complete the exit quiz by answering all the questions.
Teacher MovesFacilitate the assessment and use student data to evaluate understanding, address misconceptions, and identify areas for growth.
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