Reconstruction Lesson: The 13th Amendment & Freedom, Grades 6-8

A new rule is announced. What else has to happen before life really changes? That warm-up opens a lesson on the 13th Amendment and on what freedom meant to the people it freed. Students learn why the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 was not enough (it covered areas in rebellion and left loyal border states out) and why an amendment could reach the whole nation.

What's inside

• 14 slides, with speaker notes on all 14
• Lesson plan, 2 pages
• Student reading, 2 pages, "From Proclamation to Amendment"
• "In the Constitution's Words" page, 1 page: 13th Amendment Sections 1 and 2 and General Order No. 3 (Documents A to C)
• Student worksheet, 2 pages
• Answer key, 1 page
• Print-all PDF, 8 pages

Answer key included

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