Civil War Prelude: A House Divided (1850-1861)

This introductory module provides an overview of the political and social landscape of the United States in the 1850s. Students will learn about the key issues and tensions that set the stage for the coming Civil War.

This module examines the institution of slavery and its central role in the southern and national economies. Students will explore the social, economic, and political aspects of slavery in antebellum America.

This module focuses on how generations of historians have explained the crisis of the Union. Students will analyze different historical interpretations and debates surrounding the causes of the Civil War.

This module explores how the issue of slavery's expansion into new territories dominated national politics. Students will examine key events and conflicts related to westward expansion and its impact on sectional tensions.

This module covers the impact of immigration on American society and politics in the 1850s. Students will learn about nativist movements and their influence on the political landscape of the era.

This module examines the formation and growth of the Republican Party. Students will explore the party's platform, key figures, and its rise to national prominence in the 1850s.

This module focuses on the presidency of James Buchanan and its impact on the growing national crisis. Students will analyze Buchanan's policies and their effects on sectional tensions.

This module covers Abraham Lincoln's rise to national prominence. Students will examine Lincoln's political career, his views on slavery, and the events that led to his nomination as the Republican presidential candidate.

This module explores the escalating tensions and events leading up to the Civil War. Students will study key events such as Bleeding Kansas, the Dred Scott decision, the Lincoln-Douglas debates, and John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry.

The final module examines the dissolution of the Union in the winter of 1860-61. Students will analyze the events and decisions that led to secession, and the immediate aftermath as the nation stood on the brink of civil war.