Week 33 in Mr. Bruce's History

Parents and Students,

Three years ago, PBS created a video series as a part of their "American Experience" series titled, The Abolitionists (see a preview at the bottom of the post - online only). The first time I watched it, I knew immediately this had to have a prominent place in my lessons as we approach the Civil War. It is a three-part drama/documentary, each an hour long, covering the movement led by five people to end slavery in the United States beginning in the 1820s and concludes with the end of the Civil War and the establishment of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. It is the most powerful, accurate, and engaging production I have ever used in the classroom to uncover the realities of why the Civil War was a war to end slavery.

All week, your students have gotten to know William Lloyd Garrison, Angelina Grimke, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Beecher-Stowe, and John Brown. They learned about their experiences with slavery and their unshakable Christian foundation that created for them a conviction that their lives must be dedicated to ridding the nation of the evil sin that slavery had been. Most significantly, we have learned of their efforts that forced America to confront this issue as one that must end if the nation was to be preserved. This was the work of the abolitionists - making sure that the Civil War was a war that ended slavery.

All week, we also confronted the critical assumptions of the 1850s that lead to misunderstandings regarding the causes and course of the Civil War. As slavery is the issue that gets the attention, it is also the nature of the definition of federalism that must be recognized as needing to be resolved if the Civil War is to serve a purpose. Southern states had threatened secession and civil war since 1820 - whether or not slavery was the issue. Their stance was against what they perceived as the encroachment of a tyrannical and over-reaching federal government into States' sovereignty. When it became clear that the nation was to be led by a president whose party policy was unfriendly with the status of slavery, they secede.

In their secession, the southern States form a Confederacy, a nation just like the one that existed before the Constitution - a nation where they retain their sovereignty as States.

Homework/Extension Opportunity
To debrief from this week, I have assigned something that is due Tuesday. I recorded three short videos that provide some necessary connections and supplements the content from this week. They are titled, "The Crisis of the Union," and they have an accompanying reflection/guide handout (attached below). This handout has a few questions from the video lectures to answer.

In addition, there are instructions on the handout for accessing and viewing any part (or whole) of The Abolitionists by students. I encourage anyone to re-watch with family, but the focus is to provide these for anyone who missed a day of class this week. Visit history.lawrencebruce.us for access.

The Crisis of the Union (assignment sheet)

Lastly, I hope everyone has a great weekend. Recharge and re-energize as best as possible. We have just a few busy weeks remaining. Emotions and attitudes give in to the beckoning summer weather which sometimes leads to destructive behaviors in the classroom. Let's keep those at bay for a few weeks and end the year strong!

Yours,
Mr. Bruce