Ask students to examine the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation of 1862 and Lincoln's December 1862 State of the Union message to Congress . Have students share their reports in class and comment on the various pressures and personal beliefs that influenced Lincoln as he shaped his final policy on emancipation. To gain added perspective on the debate that surrounded the Emancipation Proclamation, use The Valley of the Shadow website to review newspaper reports on the issue of emancipation prior to and during the Civil War. Students can also search based on key dates in the evolution of Lincoln's emancipation policy. An important perspective on emancipation is that of African Americans on both sides of the battlelines.
Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts.
Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiencees for a variety of purposes. Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems. Students develop an understanding of and respect for diversity in language use, patterns, and dialects across cultures, ethnic groups, geographic regions, and social roles.