Lincoln's Cooper Union Address: Primary Source Analysis
A primary source analysis worksheet built around Abraham Lincoln's 1860 Cooper Union Address, with the full excerpt and a glossary of archaic terms included. It is designed for 11th grade and above, builds close reading, rhetorical analysis, and historical contextualization skills, and works well as a single 45 to 60 minute class period or as a homework assignment.
“Create a worksheet with primary source analysis on a campaign speech, include the primary source in the document.”
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use this as a close-reading lesson in a U.S. history or rhetoric unit on the causes of the Civil War, pairing it with background on the 1860 election and the slavery debate.
- Discussion question: How does Lincoln use Douglas's claim about the Founding Fathers to build his own argument, and why might that strategy be effective with a Northern audience?
- Scaffold for struggling readers: Have students read the glossary first, then annotate the excerpt in pairs, marking each sentence as a claim, evidence, or appeal to shared values.
- Extension for advanced students: Ask them to compare Lincoln's appeal to the Founders with a speech by Douglas or a later Lincoln address, and assess how the rhetorical choices differ.
- Estimated time: About 15 minutes for the glossary and first read, 25 to 30 minutes for the analysis questions, and 10 minutes for a short debrief.
What is Diffit?
Teachers use Diffit to get quality materials for their unique classrooms. Adjust difficulty, add scaffolds, or change the topic to get started.
Try Diffit for free“Create a worksheet with primary source analysis on a campaign speech, include the primary source in the document.”
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use this as a close-reading lesson in a U.S. history or rhetoric unit on the causes of the Civil War, pairing it with background on the 1860 election and the slavery debate.
- Discussion question: How does Lincoln use Douglas's claim about the Founding Fathers to build his own argument, and why might that strategy be effective with a Northern audience?
- Scaffold for struggling readers: Have students read the glossary first, then annotate the excerpt in pairs, marking each sentence as a claim, evidence, or appeal to shared values.
- Extension for advanced students: Ask them to compare Lincoln's appeal to the Founders with a speech by Douglas or a later Lincoln address, and assess how the rhetorical choices differ.
- Estimated time: About 15 minutes for the glossary and first read, 25 to 30 minutes for the analysis questions, and 10 minutes for a short debrief.
Lincoln's Cooper Union Address: Primary Source Analysis
A primary source analysis worksheet built around Abraham Lincoln's 1860 Cooper Union Address, with the full excerpt and a glossary of archaic terms included. It is designed for 11th grade and above, builds close reading, rhetorical analysis, and historical contextualization skills, and works well as a single 45 to 60 minute class period or as a homework assignment.
What is Diffit?
Teachers use Diffit to get quality materials for their unique classrooms. Adjust difficulty, add scaffolds, or change the topic to get started.
Try Diffit for free