The Election of 1860: A Nation Divides on the Eve of War

by Jessica Gunderson

Overview

Throughout the 1850s, the issues of slavery and states' rights had divided the nation. With the election of 1860, these issues finally came to a head, setting the stage for the American Civil War. Compelling, action-packed text, vivid sensory details, and primary source quotes bring the story to life so that readers feel as if they were actually alive during the historical event.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781491482407
Publisher:	Capstone
Publication date:	01/01/2016
Series:	Presidential Politics
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.38(d)
Lexile:	870L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 14 Years

About the Author

Jessica Gunderson grew up in the small town of Washburn, North Dakota. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Dakota and an MFA in Creative Writing from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She has written more than fifty books for young readers. Her book Ropes of Revolution won the 2008 Moonbeam Award for best graphic novel. She currently lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with her husband and cat.

Table of Contents

The boiling point — Conventions and surprises — Meet the candidates — Campaigning for the vote — Victory and death.

Interviews

Meets Common Core State Standards for informational text grades 3-4. Includes primary source quotes, statistics, charts, tables, and graphs. Also includes sidebars, fact boxes, glossary, critical thinking questions, read more, and index.

Editorial Reviews

Using concise wording and illustrations that include archival photos and artwork, maps, and charts, Gunderson explains the contentious topic of the day (slavery), before introducing the candidates trying to win their way into the White House. . . .Certain aspects of the election process will be familiar to readers, such as political conventions, while others prove vastly different from the way things are done today, namely campaigning, which was conducted by a candidate’s supporters rather than the candidate himself. A glossary and critical-thinking questions round out this informative, accessible look at a pivotal election in U.S. history.

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