US 1860-1877
Civil War and Reconstruction, 1860-1877
The assessments below focus upon people and events during the American Civil War and Reconstruction, 1860-1877. During a period of intense division within the United States, these sources reflect the attitudes, beliefs, and anxieties of different groups of people within the American population. Source topics include experiences of Civil War soldiers, ideas about Abraham Lincoln, the elections of 1860 and 1864, and the experiences of African Americans during the war and Reconstruction.
Standard 1 Assessments (Cite Evidence)
Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources.
Letter from Ms. Child to John Brown, 1860
Standard 2 Assessments (Determine Central Idea)
Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.
Abraham Lincoln to Mary Todd (Letter), 1860
Raising the Flag (Painting), 1861
“Struggle and Progress-African Americans in Knox County,” 1870
“No Admittance” African Americans in Knox County, 1870
“To Working Men” Election of 1864
Anderson, "When the boys come marching home" (Song), 1864
Standard 3 Assessments (Analyze Steps or Series of Details)
Identify key steps in a text's description of a process related to history/social studies (e.g., how a bill becomes law, how interest rates are raised or lowered).
"Radical Members of the First Legislature" (Photomontage), 1876
Standard 4 Assessments (Determine Word or Phrase Meaning)
Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including vocabulary specific to domains related to history/social studies.
“Struggle and Progress-African Americans in Knox County,” 1870
Standard 5 Assessments (Analyze Structure)
Describe how a text presents information (e.g., sequentially, comparatively, causally).
"Union and Liberty! And Union and Slavery" (Cartoon), 1864
Standard 6 Assessments (Analyze Point of View)
Identify aspects of a text that reveal an author's point of view or purpose (e.g., loaded language, inclusion or avoidance of particular facts).
Letter from Ms. Child to John Brown, 1860
Democratic Party, Election of 1864
"Speech of Mr. Emerson Etheridge" (Newspaper Article), 1864
"Radical Members of the First Legislature" (Photomontage), 1876
Standard 7 Assessments (Integrate Information from Diverse Formats)
Integrate visual information (e.g., in charts, graphs, photographs, videos, or maps) with other information in print and digital texts.
Coming soon
Standard 8 Assessments (Evaluate or Compare Claims)
Distinguish among fact, opinion, and reasoned judgment in a text.
Coming soon
Standard 9 Assessments (Compare and Contrast Sources)
Analyze the relationship between a primary and secondary source on the same topic.
Coming soon
Disclaimer:
Southern Illinois University has been a proud member of the Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) program. Content created and featured in partnership with the TPS program and other collaborators listed here does not indicate an endorsement of the Library of Congress, the National Science Foundation, or any other agency.