The Emancipation Proclamation (1862)

Literature Lesson Plans - Sykalo Eugen 2024

The Emancipation Proclamation (1862)

Grade Level: This lesson plan is intended for High School U.S. History, ideally 8th or 9th grade.

Subject: Social Studies

Time Allotment: One class period (approximately 50 minutes)

Learning Objectives:

  • Students will be able to explain the historical context of the Emancipation Proclamation.
  • Students will be able to analyze the purpose and limitations of the document.
  • Students will be able to discuss the impact of the Emancipation Proclamation on the Civil War and the fight for abolition.
  • Students will be able to consider the legacy of the document and its ongoing relevance.

Materials:

  • Whiteboard or projector
  • Markers or pens
  • Handouts with primary source excerpts (Emancipation Proclamation text, quotes from historical figures)
  • Map of the United States during the Civil War (optional)

Lesson Procedure:

  1. Introduction (10 minutes):
  • Begin with a brief activation activity. Show an image of the Emancipation Proclamation or read a short excerpt. Ask students what they know about the document and why it might have been issued.
  1. Historical Context (15 minutes):
  • Lecture or class discussion about the early years of the Civil War (focusing on 1862).

✵ Key points to consider: initial Union goals (preserving the Union), increasing pressure for abolition.

  • Briefly introduce Abraham Lincoln and his evolving views on slavery during the war.
  1. Primary Source Analysis (20 minutes):
  • Divide students into small groups.
  • Provide each group with a handout containing excerpts from the Emancipation Proclamation and quotes from various historical figures (e.g., Frederick Douglass, Confederate leaders).
  • Task students with analyzing the document and the quotes:

✵ What are the key provisions of the Emancipation Proclamation?

✵ Which states were exempted and why?

✵ How did different people react to the Proclamation (abolitionists, enslaved people, Confederates)?

  1. Impact and Legacy (15 minutes):
  • Class discussion based on the primary source analysis:

✵ How did the Emancipation Proclamation change the course of the Civil War?

✵ What were the limitations of the document?

✵ How did it impact enslaved people in the Confederacy and the Union?

  • Briefly discuss the legacy of the Emancipation Proclamation:

✵ As a turning point in the fight for abolition.

✵ As a reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial equality.

Differentiation:

  • Provide scaffolding for primary source analysis by offering guiding questions or a graphic organizer.
  • Allow students to choose a specific historical figure to research and present their perspective on the Proclamation.
  • Offer alternative assessment options, such as creating a timeline of key events leading up to and following the Emancipation Proclamation or writing a letter from the perspective of an enslaved person.

Extension Activities:

  • Students can research the role of African Americans in the Civil War (e.g., the 54th Massachusetts Regiment).
  • Compare and contrast the Emancipation Proclamation with other key documents in American history related to slavery (e.g., the Fugitive Slave Act, the 13th Amendment).
  • Watch a short film clip depicting the impact of the Emancipation Proclamation on enslaved people.

Assessment:

  • Participation in group discussions and primary source analysis
  • Short exit ticket reflection on the significance of the Emancipation Proclamation
  • Optionally, a one-page essay analyzing the document's impact on the Civil War