Compromise of 1850

Students in my History classes are now studying the events that lead up to and contributed to the Civil War. One attempt to settle the issue of slavery in the newly acquired western land was the Compromise of 1850. Today students dissected an excerpt of this document and answered four questions to better understand Congress' point of view:
  • What does the author assume to be true?
  • What do I agree with?
  • What do I want to argue with?
  • What do I aspire to?
History shows us that the Compromise of 1850 was an unsuccessful attempt to appease the North and the South but analyzing this document will allow students to better understand the efforts that went into keeping the country united.

Link to the Compromise of 1850: http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=27

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