As storm clouds of disunion and war were gathering across the nation, president elect Abraham Lincoln delivered his historic first inaugural address on March 4 closing with these words addressed to the secessionists -- "We must not be enemies" . Most students are familiar with the enormous costs and consequences of the Civil War and the reputation of Abraham Lincoln but have not had the opportunity to read his words and reflect on the ideas of this great speech. Use one of these EDSITEment lessons as well as an interactive to bring Lincoln's speech into your classroom.

What better way to set the stage and the tone for the celebration of the sesquicentennial of the Civil War?

Lincoln's First Inaugural Address We Must Not be Enemies Grades 3-5 http://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/lincolns-first-inaugural-address-we-must-not-be-enemies
Help your students understand the historical context and significance of Lincoln's inaugural address through archival documents such as campaign posters, sheet music, vintage photographs and documents. Learn how the resources in EDSITEment-reviewed sites can help you do the same for any President.

Lincoln Goes to War Grades 9-12 http://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/lincoln-goes-war
This lesson plan explores the decision-making process that precipitated the Civil War, focusing on deliberations within the Lincoln administration that led to the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter in April 1861. Students first review the situation that Lincoln inherited when he took office in March 1861, and summarize his views on the critical issues before him as reflected in his First Inaugural Address.

The First Inaugural Address: Defending the American Union Grades 9-12 http://EDSITEment.NEH.gov/lesson-plan/first-inaugural-address-1861mdashdefending-american-union
This lesson examines Lincoln's First Inaugural Address to understand why he thought his duty as president required him to treat secession as an act of rebellion and not a legitimate legal or constitutional action by disgruntled states.

Interactive: Listen to an actor read the speech http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/neh/interactives/lincoln/shell.swf
Related Lesson

Abraham Lincoln, the 1860 Election, and the Future of the American Union Grades 9-12 http://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/abraham-lincoln-1860-election-and-future-american-union-and-slavery
This lesson plan explores Abraham Lincoln's rise to political prominence during the debate over the future of American slavery. Lincoln's anti-slavery politics will be contrasted with the abolitionism of William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass and the "popular sovereignty" concept of U.S. Senator Stephen A. Douglas. The views of southern Democrats like Jefferson Davis and William Lowndes Yancey will also be examined to show how sectional thinking leading up to the 1860 presidential election eventually produced a southern "secession" and the American Civil War. In addition, the Republican Party platform of 1860 will be compared with the platforms of the two Democratic factions and the Constitutional Union Party to determine how the priorities of Lincoln and his party differed from the other parties in 1860, and how these differences eventually led to the dissolution of the Union.

Use our calendar to find timely and targeted lessons for your classroom
http://edsitement.neh.gov/calendar/2011-02

EDSITEment http://edsitement.neh.gov

the free high quality educational resource from the National Endowment for the Humanties has a new interface. We have over 500 primary source based lessons in US and World History, American and World Literautre, Art and Culture.
We have a feature for Black History Month
http://edsitement.neh.gov/black-history-month