Activity Title: Maps Provide Information Through Visual Drawings

Grade Level: 3-9th

Introduction of Maps:
Discuss the parts of a map: compass, scale, title, legend or key, notations. Review types of maps: topographic, political, military, bird’s eye and raised relief.

Activity Overview:
Abraham Lincoln was elected during a time of internal conflict and constant debate about several different issues. One of the major divisions between the states was slavery. The Republican Party created a map to show this issue of slavery to the general population in an attempt to persuade them towards their perspective. The map from the 1850s shows several different important issues like the growing sectionalism, congressional representation by state, and the number of slave owners. The activity will look at the map as a visual demonstration of how the United States was divided on the slavery issue.
Maps: Exhibition Reynolds’s Political Map of the United States

Goal of the Activity:
The students will take an active role in the activity by acting as historians. They will ask questions to discover the secrets the map holds. The students will use analysis worksheets to guide their investigation.

Learning Objectives:
Gain an understanding with one of the issues Abraham Lincoln feat at the start of his presidency.
Understand how maps can give a visual representation of a historical issue.
Learn how to read a map
Analyze maps as primary sources.
Understand the regions of the United States

Investigative Questions:
How does the map represents the individual states stance position on slavery?

Primary Sources Learning Practices:
Use a map analysis sheets

Tips for reading the political map:
The Free states are in red
The slave states are in black
The territory open to slavery or freedom are in green

Additional research:
If possible, allow time for further research with supplemental resources from your library: biographies, non-fiction, on-line resources from the Library of Congress.

Assessment:
Teacher observation of critical thinking.
Evaluate the student analysis sheets.