Unit 5
Countdown to Secession
Unit Overview
This unit will cover the importance of agriculture in South Carolina during the Antebellum Era as well as the conflicts that lead to the Civil War. Students will first examine the different classes of people in South Carolina, followed by conflicts that arose over western expansion and the debates over slavery, state’s rights, and secession. Students will also examine the points of view of pro/anti-slavery individuals and the social consequences of slavery.
Overarching Inquiry Question
Was secession inevitable?
Standards & Skills Emphasis at a Glance
Standard 3: Demonstrate an understanding of conflict and compromise in South Carolina, the Southern region, and the United States as a result of sectionalism between the period 1816–1865.
Indicator 8.3.CO: Compare the debates between South Carolina and the federal government regarding slavery, federalism, and the Constitution. This indicator was developed to encourage inquiry into the debates, heightened by Westward Expansion, over federal and state power concerning slavery, and the government’s role in protecting and securing natural rights.
Indicator 8.3.CX: Evaluate the economic significance of agriculture on South Carolina, the U.S., and the world. This indicator was designed to encourage inquiry into the economic implications of the expansion of the rice and cotton industries. This indicator was also developed to promote inquiry into Westward Expansion, the mutually beneficial impact of cotton on Northern factories and Southern plantations, and the emerging national and international markets.
Indicator 8.3.CC: Analyze debates and efforts to recognize the natural rights of marginalized groups during the period of expansion and sectionalism. This indicator was designed to encourage inquiry into the continuities and changes of the experiences of marginalized groups such as African Americans, Native Americans and women, as the U.S. expanded westward and grappled with the development of new states.
Indicator 8.3.E: Utilize a variety of primary and secondary sources to analyze multiple perspectives on the effects of the Civil War within South Carolina and the United States.
I Can Statements
I can examine the different classes of people in Antebellum South Carolina.
I can identify the role cotton and rice played in economies of the North and South.
I can explain the impact of the cotton gin on the institution of slavery and westward expansion.
I can explain the political conflicts leading to the Civil War.
I can identify the social consequences of slavery.
I can examine the political view of states' rights and connect this to South Carolina’s decision to secede.
