Name:

Block::

Walsh
HONORS

Unit 6 DBQ:
What Caused the Civil War?

DUE dates:
Document Analysis End of class 5/15
Outline5/18 or 19, depending on MCAS
Final Draft 5/21 at midnight
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DBQ Expectations & Overview

In April 1861, the 33 states that made up the United States of America went to war against each other. The war
was to last four long, heart-wrenching years and cost the lives of more than 600,000 Northern & Southern
soldiers. The reasons for hits costly war have been debated by historians and citizens ever since. Now its your
turn to ask and answer the classic question, What caused the Civil War?
Length Requirements
o This DBQ is a TYPED essay that uses ONLY the documents in this packet to
answer the question: What caused the Civil War?
o **This is NOT a research paper where you get external information.
Your DBQ must:
o Have 5 paragraphs:
Introduction paragraph with Thesis the DIRECTLY answers the question:
What caused the Civil War?
THREE body paragraphs with your claims, specific evidence from the
documents provided and analysis to prove your thesis
Conclusion paragraph that sums up your point & leaves the reader convinced
that yours is the only possible conclusion
DBQ schedule (Walsh classes)
o Day 1: Thursday 5/14
o Introduction to the DBQ
o Day 2: Friday 5/15
o Annotating & analyzing Documents
o Grouping documents into categories
o Writing your Thesis
o Day 3: Monday 5/18
o Outlining
o Day 4 5/19, 5/20: (80 min block) Computer lab
o Working on and completing your essay outline
o Homework:
Working on & completing your final draft (you
have tonight and the next night)
o Day 5 Thursday 5/21
o Reviewing for Civil War Test
o HW: Revise your essay & submit final draft, study for test
o Turn in digital DBQs via DropItToMe by midnight!
http://dropitto.me/mswalsh
Password: ihearthistory

How you will be graded:

o Analysis packet will
be checked for a CW
grade (10 pts)
o Outline will be
checked for a HW
grade (25 pts)
o Your Final Draft
DBQ will be graded
as an assessment
(100 pts)
TOTAL = 135 points

PART 1: Document Analysis & Thesis

* * *
DIRECTIONS: For your essay, you will need specific evidence to support your answer to the question What
caused the Civil War? Complete the analysis questions that follow each document. (You MUST analyze a
minimum of THREE documents from each group: A, B, and C) (Thats 9 total documents at the minimum)

Group A
Document A-1

1. Describe the changes in America these maps show:

OBSERVATIONS (I see.)

INTERPRETATIONS (This means)

2. What DEEPER problems did these changes cause for the US?

3. What CLUE(s) does this give you about what caused the Civil War?
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Document A-2

1. Describe the Authors main idea & supporting arguments:

2. What DEEPER problems in America does this passage reveal?

3. What CLUE(s) does this give you about what caused the Civil War?

Document A-3

1. Describe the Authors main idea & supporting arguments:

2. What DEEPER problems in America does this passage reveal?

3. What CLUE(s) does this give you about what caused the Civil War?

Document A-4

1. Describe the changes in America these maps show:

OBSERVATIONS (I see.)

INTERPRETATIONS (This means)

2. What DEEPER problems did these changes cause for the US?

3. What CLUE(s) does this give you about what caused the Civil War?
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Document A-5

1. Describe the changes in America these maps show:

OBSERVATIONS (I see.)

INTERPRETATIONS (This means)

2. What DEEPER problems did these changes cause for the US?

3. What CLUE(s) does this give you about what caused the Civil War?

Group B
Document B-1

1. Describe the changes in America this map shows:

OBSERVATIONS (I see.)

INTERPRETATIONS (This means)

2. What DEEPER problems did these changes cause for the US?

3. What CLUE(s) does this give you about what caused the Civil War?

Document B-2
Nothing in the Constitution or laws of any State can destroy a right
distinctly and expressly affirmed in the Constitution of the United States.
The right of property in a slave is distinctly and expressly affirmed in the
Constitution of the United States. Therefore, nothing in the Constitution or
laws of any State can destroy the right of property in a slave.
Abraham Lincoln -- October 7, 1858
1. Describe the Authors main idea & supporting arguments:

2. What DEEPER problems in America does this passage reveal?

3. What CLUE(s) does this give you about what caused the Civil War?

Document B-3
The signers of the Declaration of Independence meant to set up a
standard maxim for free society, which should be familiar to all, and
revered by all; constantly looked to, constantly labored for, and even
though never perfectly attained, constantly approximated, and thereby
constantly spreading and deepening its influence, and augmenting the
happiness and value of life to all people of all colors everywhere.
June 26, 1857
1. Describe the Authors main idea & supporting arguments:

2. What DEEPER problems in America does this passage reveal?

3. What CLUE(s) does this give you about what caused the Civil War?

Document B-4

1. Describe the changes in America this map shows:

OBSERVATIONS (I see.)

INTERPRETATIONS (This means)

2. What DEEPER problems did these changes cause for the US?

3. What CLUE(s) does this give you about what caused the Civil War?

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Document B-5
John Brown's Last Prophecy
Charlestown, Va, 2nd, December, 1859
I John Brown am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty, land: will never be
purged away; but with Blood. I had as I now think: vainly flattered myself that withought
very much bloodshed; it might be done.
(John Brown's last letter, written on day he hanged. From "John Brown: a Biography," by Oswald Garrison Villard.)

1. Describe the Authors main idea & supporting arguments:

2. What DEEPER problems in America does this passage reveal?

3. What CLUE(s) does this give you about what caused the Civil War?

Document B-6
Letter from Mahala Doyle
Altho' vengeance is not mine, I confess that I do feel gratified to hear that you were
stopped in your fiendish career at Harper's Ferry, with the loss of your two sons,
you can now appreciate my distress in Kansas, when you then and there entered my
house at midnight and arrested my husband and two boys, and took them out of the
yard and in cold blood shot them dead in my hearing. You can't say you done it to
free slaves. We had none and never expected to own one...My son John Doyle whose
life I beged of you is now grown up and is very desirous to be at Charlestown on the
day of your execution.
(A letter sent to John Brown while in jail. From "To Purge This Land with Blood" by Stephen Oates.)

1. Describe the Authors main idea & supporting arguments:

2. What DEEPER problems in America does this passage reveal?

3. What CLUE(s) does this give you about what caused the Civil War?

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Group C
Document C-1

1. Describe the changes in America this map shows:

OBSERVATIONS (I see.)

INTERPRETATIONS (This means)

2. What DEEPER problems did these changes cause for the US?

3. What CLUE(s) does this give you about what caused the Civil War?
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Document C-2
Article from Boston Daily Traveler, 1860
No state can legally leave the Union. What is called "the right of secession" has no existence.
It means the right of revolution, which belongs to every people....If the revolution succeeds,
history justifies them; if they fail, it condemns them, even while not condemning their
motives of action....If South Carolina should rebel,--and secession is rebellion,--and if other
states should join her, it would be the duty of the general government to compel them to
observe the law....

1. Describe the Authors main idea & supporting arguments:

2. What DEEPER problems in America does this passage reveal?

3. What CLUE(s) does this give you about what caused the Civil War?

Document C-3
Source #4: Article from the Dubuque Herald, 1860

The Constitution makes no provision for secession.... Constitutionally, there can

be no such thing as secession of a State from the Union. But it does not follow
that because a State cannot secede constitutionally, it is obliged under all
circumstances to remain in the Union....If for any cause the Government...should
become inimical to the rights and interests of the people, instead of affording
protection to their persons and property, and securing the happiness and
prosperity, to attain which it was established, it is the natural right of the people to
change the Government regardless of Constitutions.
What then is the South to do? Suffer the compact which brought them into the
Union to be violated with impunity, and without means of redress; submit to
incursions into their territory and trespass upon their property by northern
abolitionists?...Who expects, who desires the South to submit to all this?
1. Describe the Authors main idea & supporting arguments:

2. What DEEPER problems in America does this passage reveal?

3. What CLUE(s) does this give you about what caused the Civil War?
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Document C-4
Abraham Lincoln, House Divided Speech
Speech given June 16, 1858, at the Illinois Republican convention in Springfield (Lincoln
was running for the US Senate)
"A house divided against itself cannot stand." I believe this government cannot endure,
permanently, half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved; I do not
expect the house to fall; but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one
thing, or all the other. Either the opponents of slavery will arrest the further spread of it and
place it where the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in the course of ultimate
extinction, or its advocates will push it forward till it shall become alike lawful in all the
states, old as well as new, North as well as South.

1. Describe the Authors main idea & supporting arguments:

2. What DEEPER problems in America does this passage reveal?

3. What CLUE(s) does this give you about what caused the Civil War?

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Document C-5

1. Describe the changes in America this map shows:

OBSERVATIONS (I see.)

INTERPRETATIONS (This means)

2. What DEEPER problems did these changes cause for the US?

3. What CLUE(s) does this give you about what caused the Civil War?

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Document C-6
Emancipation Proclamation map

1. Describe the changes in America this map shows:

OBSERVATIONS (I see.)

INTERPRETATIONS (This means)

2. What DEEPER problems did these changes cause for the US?

3. What CLUE(s) does this give you about what caused the Civil War?
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BUCKETING your Sources

DIRECTIONS: Now that youve analyzed each of the sources, you need to organize
them into categories. This will help you narrow in on a thesis & choose the best
documents to support it.
1. Decide which documents belong together because they have something in common.
2. Group the documents in the most obvious way into 3 buckets or categories.
a. **Documents may fit in MORE THAN ONE bucket
3. Title each bucket with a word/phrase that provides insight into how all of the
documents relate to one another.

Bucket Title:

Document #s that belong

in this bucket:

Bucket Title:

Document #s that belong

in this bucket:

Bucket Title:

Document #s that belong

in this bucket:

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THESIS Statement
State your argument and your CLAIMS (Two sentences that serve as the topic sentences for
your body paragraphs. They are the mini thesis statements that start the body paragraphs.
Each of them must relate to the thesis statement.)
THESIS STATEMENT = A sentence that states the overall argument and/or main
points of your essay.

CLAIM 1:
[reason why]:
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________

THESIS

____________________
caused the Civil War
because.

CLAIM 2:
[reason why]:
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________

CLAIM 3:
[reason why]:
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________

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Part II: Essay Outline

* * *
PARAGRAPH #1: Introduction
Hook or Attention-getting Opening
(Create a statement that catches the readers interest. Think about making controversial or surprising
statements, asking questions, or stating some shocking facts)

Background Information about the Topic

(Provide general information or commentary about the topic youll be writing aboutthe period leading up to
the Civil War. Make sure you indicate the place & time in history for this essay. Transition from the general to
specific as you narrow in toward your thesis.)

Thesis Statement (Copy your statement from pg. 18 of this packet)

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PARAGRAPH #2: First Body Paragraph

CLAIM #1:
Write out your first claim (i.e., from your thesis on pg 18) in a complete sentence:

Introduce the document

youre using:

Cite the EVIDENCE that supports

your choice:

EXPLAIN how this evidence supports your

choice:

According to (author of
document)
In (name of document) it
shows

(Provide a quote or a SPECIFIC DETAIL

from one of the visual sources!)

This means
It is evident that
Clearly

Clearly, this document shows that

__________________ caused
the Civil War
[tie analysis back to Claim 1]
because

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PARAGRAPH #3: Second Body Paragraph

CLAIM #1:
Write out your second claim (i.e., from your thesis on pg 18) in a complete sentence:

Introduce the document

youre using:

Cite the EVIDENCE that supports

your choice:

EXPLAIN how this evidence supports your

choice:

According to (author of
document)
In (name of document) it
shows

(Provide a quote or a SPECIFIC DETAIL

from one of the visual sources!)

This means
It is evident that
Clearly

Clearly, this document shows that

__________________ caused
the Civil War
[tie analysis back to Claim 2]
because

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PARAGRAPH #4: Third Body Paragraph

CLAIM #1:
Write out your third claim (i.e., from your thesis on pg 18) in a complete sentence:

Introduce the document

youre using:

Cite the EVIDENCE that supports

your choice:

EXPLAIN how this evidence supports your

choice:

According to (author of
document)
In (name of document) it
shows

(Provide a quote or a SPECIFIC DETAIL

from one of the visual sources!)

This means
It is evident that
Clearly

Clearly, this document shows that

__________________ caused
the Civil War
[tie analysis back to Claim 3]
because

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Paragraph #5: Conclusion

Transition to the Conclusion
(Use a transitional phrase then Make a statement about your topics importance and/or restate your main
points.)

Restate your Thesis (Restate your thesis in a slightly new way highlighting the new evidence presented in
the body.)

Clincher (Write a sentence or two that will keep the reader thinking. You might make a controversial
statement about the topic, ask the reader a question about the topic, call the reader to action, make a broad
generalization about the topic, suggestions or recommendation, final criticism)

This outline is DUE TOMORROW at the

beginning of class.

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Part III: Final Draft!

* * *

DIRECTIONS: Submit your final draft digitally using the Instructions below.
And youre done!

FINAL DRAFT is DUE THURSDAY by

MIDNIGHT (digitally)
1. SAVE your DBQ with the title in the following format:
a. **You may need to re-save it to change the name or edit
the title of the document from My Documents.
b. **IF you are using Google Docs, please upload a Word
document copy just the same.
c. Name-DBQ-Civil-War
i. EXAMPLE 1: Lynh-DBQ-Civil-War
ii. EXAMPLE 2: Stephanie-DBQ-Civil-War
2. Go to the following URL to submit your documents:
i. http://dropitto.me/mswalsh
3. Enter the PASSWORD: ihearthistory
4. Upload your essay
If you have a concern or get stuck, shoot me an e-mail and well work
it out
walshc@randolph.k12.ma.us

And thats it! Youve finished your very LAST DBQ in

Honors Early US History!

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