Letter of Leadership

In this worksheet, students examine an adapted primary source excerpt from Abraham Lincoln’s 1862 letter to Horace Greeley. Learners analyze Lincoln’s perspective, purpose, and intentions regarding the Union and slavery during the Civil War. They answer guiding questions that require them to interpret Lincoln’s priorities using evidence from the text. The worksheet encourages students to reflect on how historical context influences a leader’s decisions. It also strengthens close reading and primary-source analysis skills by prompting students to examine Lincoln’s reasoning and tone. Learners develop a deeper understanding of differing viewpoints during the Civil War era. This activity cultivates historical thinking by connecting textual evidence with broader events in U.S. history.

Curriculum Matched Skills

Social Studies – Primary Source Analysis

English Language Arts – Citing Textual Evidence

Social Studies – Civil War Historical Understanding

English Language Arts – Author’s Purpose and Perspective

This worksheet is part of our historical text worksheets collection.