Grade 8 Lesson at a Glance: Chapter 11, Lesson 1

Houghton Mifflin Social Studies
A More Perfect Union

Lesson at a Glance
Chapter 11 Lesson 1: The Sectional Conflict (pp. 314-319)

The Big Idea
Framework Concept: Conflict Conflicts arose between the North and the South over whether to allow slavery in the territories and new states.

Talk about the differences between the Northern work system of free labor and the Southern system of slavery. Point out the ways that industrialism and immigration also contributed to growing sectionalism between the two regions. Discuss why each region felt so strongly about the issue of slavery in new territories and states.

Compare and contrast the specifics of the Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850. Identify those aspects of the each compromise that benefited the North and those that benefited the South. Then discuss why these were only temporary, not permanent, solutions to the problem of slavery in United States.

Lesson Outline
Use the Lesson Outline to preview the content of the lesson. You may wish to print it for your students as a guide during reading.

Check for Understanding

Divide the class in half. Assign one half to write a letter to the editor arguing for the expansion of slavery into new states, and the other half to write a letter arguing against the expansion. Letters should mention the balance of power in Congress. Have students alternate sharing their letters and discuss.
Have each student trace a map of the United States and use different colors to identify the states in the North and the states in the South. Then have them draw pictures or list terms that illustrate the major differences between these two regions.

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