Kansas History Standards (Middle and High School):

• KH8B3I1 explain the concept of popular sovereignty under the Kansas-Nebraska Act
• KH8B3I3 describe the influence of pro- and
  antislavery ideas on territorial Kansas

Others:

See lesson plan.

Knowledge:

• Understand the impact of popular sovereignty in
  the creation of Kansas as a state

Skills:

• Using primary sources (letters, speeches,
  photographs, artifacts, advertisements,
  government documents)
• Analyzing persuasive writing

• What issues currently divide the nation?
• Who has a right to decide the outcome of
  controversial issues?

• Students write a short essay about whether the
  conflict in Kansas is over slavery or popular
  sovereignty.

1. Activate empathy for the issues in territorial Kansas by discussing a current politically divisive topic.
2. Define the terms sectionalism and popular sovereignty.
3. Have students evaluate primary source documents as to whether they are anti- or proslavery.
4. Lead a discussion about the evidence that students found to support or oppose slavery in Kansas.