By the 1860s, America was like one family having a very big argument. The Northern states and the Southern states disagreed about many things — most of all, about slavery.
Slavery meant that some people were forced to work for others with no pay and no freedom. It was very wrong. Many people in the North wanted slavery to end. Many leaders in the South wanted to keep it.
The argument grew so big that the Southern states tried to leave and form their own country. That started the Civil War — a war between the North and the South, Americans fighting Americans. This week you will learn about this sad but important time.
1. What did the North and South disagree about most of all?
2. What was slavery?
3. What did the Southern states try to do?
4. What is a civil war?
By the end of this week, you will be able to:
1. Explain why the North and South went to war.
2. Tell what slavery was and why it was wrong.
3. Describe how the war ended and the country came back together.
4. Explain how people can solve big disagreements fairly.
Write what each word means in your own words.
Write N for the North or S for the South.
| Clue | N or S? |
|---|---|
| Many people here wanted slavery to end. | |
| Leaders here wanted to keep slavery. | |
| These states tried to leave the country. | |
| These states wanted to keep the country together. |
1. America was like a family having a big .
2. The biggest disagreement was about .
3. Many in the wanted slavery to end.
4. Southern states tried to the country.
5. This started the War.
6. It was fighting .
1. Why is a war between people of the same country extra sad?
| I learned... | Circle one |
|---|---|
| What the North and South disagreed about | YES / NOT YET |
| What slavery was | YES / NOT YET |
| How the Civil War started | YES / NOT YET |