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Reading Comprehension Worksheets
Black History and Blacks in U.S. History
A Nation Divided
(1840-1861)
Slavery, Compromises, and Dred Scott

Black History and Blacks in U.S. History
Black History and Blacks in U.S. History

Slavery, Compromises, and Dred Scott
Print Slavery, Compromises, and Dred Scott Reading Comprehension with Fifth Grade Work

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Print Slavery, Compromises, and Dred Scott Reading Comprehension

Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 5 to 7
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   6.42

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    cotton-growing, unconstitutional, verdict, helping, further, founding, refused, illegal, slavery, death, citizen, runaway, accept, freedom, power, unfair
     content words:    Civil War, United States, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Louisiana Purchase, Missouri Compromise, Slave State, Free State, Slave States, Fugitive Slave

Slavery, Compromises, and Dred Scott
By Mary L. Bushong 		  
1     You have heard of the Civil War that took place in the United States from 1861-65, but do you know what events led up to it? Many people think it was just about the slavery issue. That is not really true. It was also about who had the power to make laws. Was it the individual states, or was it the federal government?
 
2     Slavery had been part of the founding of the new country of the United States. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both owned slaves, although they both spoke against slavery. Washington's will freed his slaves upon his death.
 
3     As cotton-growing plantations grew, they needed more and more slaves. Growing cotton became more profitable, and more and more plantation owners wanted more land. When new territory became available through the Louisiana Purchase, the issue of slavery spreading into those new territories and, later, new states, was a big issue. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 came about for this reason. Missouri wanted to join as a Slave State, but many people did not want slavery spreading further. They refused to accept Missouri as a state if slavery was allowed there.

Paragraphs 4 to 9:
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Black History and Blacks in U.S. History
             Black History and Blacks in U.S. History

A Nation Divided
(1840-1861)
             A Nation Divided
(1840-1861)

United States
             United States


    American Government  
 
    Black History and Blacks in U.S. History  
 
    Children in History  
 
    Government Careers  
 
    Hispanic Heritage  
 
    How Can I Help?  
 
 
    Immigration  
 
    National Parks and Monuments  
 
    Native Americans  
 
    Presidents of the United States  
 
    Women's History  
 

United States History
    A Nation Divided
(1840-1861) 		 
 
    A New Nation
(1776-1830) 		 
 
    After the Civil War
(1865-1870) 		 
 
    American Revolution  
 
    Cold War
(1947-1991) 		 
 
    Colonial America (1492-1776)  
 
    Lewis and Clark
(1804-1806) 		 
 
    Pearl Harbor  
 
    Spanish American War (1898)  
 
    The 1890's  
 
    The 1900's  
 
    The 1910's  
 
    The 1920's  
 
    The 1930's  
 
 
    The 1940's  
 
    The 1950's  
 
    The 1960's  
 
    The 1970's  
 
    The 1980's  
 
    The 1990's  
 
    The 2000's  
 
    The Civil War
(1861-1865) 		 
 
    The Great Depression
(1929-1945) 		 
 
    The United States Grows
(1865-1900) 		 
 
    The War of 1812  
 
    Wild, Wild West  
 
    World War I
(1914-1918) 		 
 
    World War II  
 

50 States

             Fifty States Theme Unit

Document Based Activities
      Document Based Activities



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