U.S.

History Semester 1
Unit 6
How to complete 6.03 Graded Assignment: Disunion (essay)
Important:
Be sure to work through the content in Section 6.03: Disunion before doing this assignment. Use the
Student Guide in 6.03: Disunion Lesson Introduction: Disunion, p.2; and the Reading Guide & Lesson Answer
Key in Learn: Sectional Conflicts, p. 1. You may not understand the assignment otherwise.
The assignment (in the 6.03 Assessment section) looks like this:

6.03 Graded Assignment: Disunion

South Carolina Secedes
The following question asks you to write a clear essay that analyzes South Carolina’s reasons for seceding from the
Union. Use both the documents listed on next two pages and your knowledge of the time period. You may also use the
time line you previously completed.
(100 points)

1. What were South Carolina’s stated reasons for seceding from the United States in December, Score
1860? Do you believe that the stated reasons were the complete explanation for South Carolina’s
secession? Was South Carolina justified in seceding?

Explain your answer in a well-organized essay that demonstrates your understanding of the
documents and your knowledge of the time period.
Answer:

Tips:
You are to answer the 3 questions posed in the prompt (next to “1.”) They are:

− What were South Carolina’s stated reasons for seceding from the United States in December,
1860?

− Do you believe that the stated reasons were the complete explanation for South Carolina’s
secession?

− Was South Carolina justified in seceding?

This is a persuasive essay. Decide on a position and support your opinion using:

− The documents on pages 2 & 3 of the assignment (*SEE BELOW)

− Your knowledge of the time period

− Your timeline
For a 100-point “well-organized essay,” your essay should be multiple paragraphs with an introduction, body
paragraphs, and a conclusion. It should include details from the sources provided, your notes, online textbook, and/or
the course (not the Internet). Don’t forget to proofread for mistakes! 😊

The documents attached to the assignment are made up of the following*:

Document A
Source: Confederate States of America Declaration of the Immediate Causes Which Induce and Justify the Secession of
South Carolina from the Federal Union; adopted December 24, 1860

Document B
Source: Jefferson Davis’s inaugural address, February 8, 1861

Document C
Source: Abraham Lincoln’s inaugural address, March 4 1861

Document D
Source: Map of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, K12 Inc.

*These are the sources you need to use in the assignment!

This is what they look like: