To William Kellogg
Elementary School
To William Kellogg
Student Activities:
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What compromise was Lincoln referring to? What was the premise of this compromise?
•
“Pop. Sov.” stands for Stephen A. Douglas’s doctrine of popular sovereignty. Have students
research this and the Kansas/Nebraska Act. What was Lincoln’s view of this doctrine?
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What/who is the “tug” that Lincoln refers to?
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Have the students find the fugitive slave clause of the Constitution. (Article 4, section 2, clause
3) (Note: the actual word “slave” is not used in the Constitution until the 13th Amendment.) Why does
Lincoln think the fugitive slave clause should be enforced?
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What does the closing “In haste” refer to?
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Why was this letter marked, “Private & Confidential?”
UnderHisHat.org 1 Middle School
To William Kellogg
Journal: What are you willing to stand up for and why? Are these ideas based on morals instilled by parents,
grandparents, teachers, friends, etc? What would you be willing to do or sacrifice in order to make your point?
Define or Identify: Missouri Compromise, Kansas-Nebraska Act, Popular Sovereignty, Fugitive Slave Act,
Stephen Douglas and Secession.
Crisis Letter: The teacher creates a list of scenarios. Students choose one scenario which will instruct students
on a major problem that needs a solution. Students will then explore this topic and write a crisis letter to the
teacher urging the teacher to take action immediately. Support will be needed (from research) to explain the
situation and possible solutions. However, a response from the teacher will be required in order for action to
take place. Only then will the crisis be under control.
Possible examples:
• Year round school
• School during the weekends as well as current schedule
• Segregating schools (number of ways)
• Raising the driving age to 25
• The ban of cell phones for children under 18
Research: Missouri Compromise, Kansas-Nebraska Act, Popular Sovereignty, Fugitive Slave Act, Stephen
Douglas and secession
UnderHisHat.org 2 High School
To William Kellogg
Research: Have students research the career of William Pitt Kellogg and his ties to Lincoln, Grant and
Reconstruction.
Discussion: William Kellogg was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Nebraska Territory.
Have students research this letter’s references to: No compromise to the end of slavery, Popular Sovereignty
and the Fugitive Slave Law. Discuss the relationship of these in the context of the Nebraska Territory and the
Kansas-Nebraska Act. Discuss why Lincoln would support the fugitive slave clause? Why might he want this
correspondence “private & confidential”?
Crisis Letter: The teacher creates a list of scenarios. Students choose one scenario which will instruct students
on a major problem that needs a solution. Students will then explore this topic and write a crisis letter to the
teacher urging the teacher to take action immediately. Support will be needed (from research) to explain the
situation and possible solutions. However, a response from the teacher will be required in order for action to
take place. Only then will the crisis be under control.
Possible examples:
• Year round school
• School during the weekends as well as current schedule
• Segregating schools (number of ways)
• Raising the driving age to 25
• The ban of cell phones for children under 18
Research: Missouri Compromise, Kansas-Nebraska Act, Popular Sovereignty, Fugitive Slave Act, Stephen
Douglas and Secession.
UnderHisHat.org 3