1 of 8

Emancipation Proclamation

Who Freed The Slaves

2 of 8

  • Today we’re going to ask a question that historians have debated: Did Lincoln free the slaves?

​

Video 1 Video 2

3 of 8

  • So far, based on the movie(s) and/or this background, do you think that Lincoln freed the slaves or that the slaves freed themselves?

4 of 8

In pairs, read and complete Guiding Questions for Documents A and B

​

5 of 8

6 of 8

Graphic Organizer

Review your answers and make a list of the Evidence that the slaves freed themselves and that Lincoln's action freed themselves.

7 of 8

Conclusion

As a pair answer these questions.

  • Did Lincoln free the slaves or did the slaves free themselves?
  • What are the arguments on either side?

  • Why have some historians worked really hard to prove that the slaves freed themselves?

  • Why does it matter whether or not Lincoln was truly bothered by slavery, as Douglass claims?

​

8 of 8

Conclusion

Who do YOU think freed the slaves? Write your opinion using the most convincing evidence to support your opinion in the space provided at the bottom of the paper. If you run out of room then you can write on a seperate piece of paper and staple it to this paper