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Causes of the Civil War: Focus on States' Rights

History
Year 9 / GCSE / Grade 8
9 questions
~18 mins
1 views0 downloads

About This Worksheet

This worksheet explores the role of states' rights as a cause of the American Civil War through a timeline and chronological analysis.

Topics covered:

#History
#History
#Causes of Civil War
#Standard
#Timeline & Chronology
#States' Rights
#Explain the significance of states' rights in the lead-up to the Civil War
#Compare different viewpoints on states' rights during the 1850s
#Analyse key events that highlighted conflicts over states' rights
#Outline the chronological development of the states' rights argument

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Causes of the Civil War: Focus on States' Rights

Subject: HistoryGrade: Year 9 / GCSE / Grade 8
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Untitled Worksheet

Grade Year 9 / GCSE / Grade 8
A

Timeline of Key Events related to States' Rights and the Civil War

Sources and Historical Views:

Source A: Excerpt from the Kentucky Resolution (1798)

'The states are the true sovereigns, and the federal government derives its powers from the states.' Provenance: Drafted by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.

Source B: Speech by Senator John C. Calhoun (1837)

'The states have the right to nullify federal laws they deem unconstitutional.' Provenance: Speech delivered in the Senate.

Source C: Excerpt from Abraham Lincoln's First Inaugural Address (1861)

'I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists.' Provenance: Inaugural address.

1.
Write a brief outline of the key events in the 1850s that increased tensions over states' rights leading up to the Civil War.
[3 marks]
2.
Compare the views of Thomas Jefferson and John C. Calhoun on the authority of states versus the federal government.
[4 marks]
3.
Explain the significance of the 1832 Nullification Crisis in understanding states' rights arguments.
[3 marks]
4.
Analyse how the concept of states' rights was used to justify actions such as secession.
[6 marks]
5.
Outline the chronological development of the states' rights argument from the early 1800s to 1861.
[6 marks]
6.
Compare the perspectives of Lincoln and Southern states on the issue of states' rights.
[4 marks]
7.
Explain how the concept of states' rights contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War.
[6 marks]
8.
Describe the main arguments used by proponents of states' rights during the 1850s.
[3 marks]
9.
Analyse the impact of the debate over states' rights on the unity of the United States before 1861.
[6 marks]

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Details

Created
1/1/2026
Updated
1/1/2026
Type
worksheet
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