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A Guide to Primary Resources for U.S. History
The Civil War and Reconstruction: 1860-1877 Back to History Unit

(a) identifying the major events and the roles of key leaders of the Civil War Era, with emphasis on Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee, and Frederick Douglass;


Abraham Lincoln’s speech for the special session of Congress, July 4, 1861
Fordham University: Modern History Sourcebook

Description: President Lincoln had to address a special session of Congress in order to secure financing for the Civil War. This document is the speech he delivered. Lincoln discusses the difference between rebellion and succession as well as describing, with bias, the Confederate rationale that the Constitution protected their succession.



Teaching Tips:

"Do Now" Suggestions
  • Discuss why President Lincoln needed to secure funding from Congress.
  • Lincoln mentions states rights a few times in this document, but does not mention slavery. Discuss with students why he would not have mentioned slavery.
Suggestions for Using this Resource as Part of a Lesson
  • Read this speech and discuss why the Southern and Northern perspectives on succession and the causes of the Civil War differ.
  • Have students debate the legality of succession based on primary sources. Use this document as evidence of the illegality of succession.
  • Have students, in groups or individually, outline Lincoln’s main arguments.

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