Journey #4

1861 - The Civil War and Missouri

"The years 1860 and 1861 were a time of great unrest in our country.  The northern and southern states continued to argue over slavery.  It looked like war would break out at any time.  Missouri allowed slavery.  However, many people in our state were against it. " - Missouri Adventures in Time and Place pg. 80

Missouri entered the Union as a slave state.  Many people living here felt that the states should be able to decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery. 

In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected President.  He did not think states should get to decide for themselves and he wanted to abolish slavery.  Just as the rest of the states, people in Missouri were divided in their thoughts on slavery. Some wanted to allow it while others did not.  Since Southern states were slave states during this time, many of them were scared that Lincoln would take away their rights to own slaves.  Since some states wanted slaves and some didn't.  This led to the Civil War. 

Your mission:

1. Read pages 216-230 in your Missouri Then and Now book.
2. Go to Scholastic's Our America - Civil War website.  Click on Learn about the War to find out answers to the questions listed below. 
   • Click to view Civil War questions.
3. Pretend you were living in Missouri during the Civil War.  Write a letter to a friend telling what life was like in Missouri during the war.

Resource Links:

• Our America - Civil War
• BrainPop Movie - Civil War
• Unit 12 Missouri Heritage Video - Scroll down to Unit 12.  Click on Watch Video to learn about the Civil War in Missouri.