Lesson Plan

"The Honor of Your Company is Requested": Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Ball at the Patent Office (Teaching with Historic Places)

Grade Level:
Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade
Subject:
Social Studies
Lesson Duration:
60 Minutes

Essential Question

This lesson plan explores  the Patent Office building, the site of President Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural ball.

Objective

For the full lesson plan, see: https://www.nps.gov/articles/-the-honor-of-your-company-is-requested-lincoln-s-second-inaugural-ball-at-the-patent-office.htm

Preparation

Objectives for students

1) To explain the purpose of a U.S. Presidential inauguration and how American citizens celebrate their new leader taking office.
2) To describe and determine the significance of Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural celebration in 1865.
3) To explain how different types of people might have viewed Lincoln’s inaugural ball and why.
4) To demonstrate an understanding of Lincoln’s second inaugural ball by analyzing various primary source objects, materials, and texts.
5) To discuss the role of celebratory events in personal and community life and identify places in the community associated with these events.

Materials

Procedure

Materials for students

The materials listed below can either be used directly on the computer or can be printed out, photocopied, and distributed to students. The maps and images appear twice: in a low-resolution version with associated questions and alone in a larger, high-resolution version.

1) Two maps showing the United States at the period of the Civil War and of the City of Washington, DC in 1862;
2) Four readings: One on American presidential inaugurations and the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln in 1865, one on the history of the Patent Office building, one on the March 6, 1865 inaugural ball, and one on high society and the ball;
3) Two images of primary source documents that relate to Abraham Lincoln’s inaugural ball in 1865;
4) One illustration of the inaugural ball and one drawing of the Patent Office building schematic plan.

Contact Information

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Last updated: March 4, 2020