Alabama Social Studies SS24.AS.11b
The Standard
- SS24.AS.11
- Outline Alabama’s participation in events leading to the Civil War and in the war itself, and explain how the war created change within the state.
Explain the significance of Montgomery as the first capital of the Confederate States of America, and summarize reasons for moving the capital to Richmond.
2024 Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies · Conflict
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students identify Montgomery as the first Confederate capital, where leaders formed a government and inaugurated Jefferson Davis. They explain why the capital moved to Richmond after Virginia seceded, citing its railroads, industry, and location near the eastern fighting.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students can mark both capitals on an 1861 map and put the move after Virginia’s secession. They can name an event in Montgomery and give two reasons leaders chose Richmond.
Common Misconceptions
- Some students name Richmond as the first capital or think Virginia belonged to the Confederacy from the start. Others assume Montgomery was captured, rather than recognizing why Richmond appealed to Confederate leaders.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Mark Montgomery and Richmond on a blank 1861 map. Name one event that took place in Montgomery and give two reasons the capital moved.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs an 1861 map and cards for Davis’s inauguration, Virginia’s secession, and the capital move; have them place and order the cards.
Have students write two sentences explaining the move to Richmond, using a rail map and a Tredegar Iron Works fact card.
Run a four-card sort: Montgomery events or reasons for choosing Richmond, using Davis’s inauguration, Virginia’s secession, ironworks, and railroads.
Use a current Richmond map to find transport routes, then compare their role with Richmond’s railroads and ironworks in 1861.
Free download
Printable SS24.AS.11b Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to SS24.AS.11b, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.
Download the worksheetKeep exploring
Related Standards
- SS24.4.13d
Summarize Alabama’s role in the formation of the Confederate States of America, including the pivotal events that took place in Montgomery and the division over...
- SS24.AS.9
Outline the chronology of Alabama’s path to statehood in the early nineteenth century, including the shifting of capital locations.
- SS24.4.10b
Outline political and geographic reasons for changing the location of Alabama’s state capital.
- SS24.4.14b
Locate and describe the impact of significant Civil War battles, including those affecting Alabama, and identify the location of Confederate states, states rema...
Turn this exact standard into a lesson
Grade, subject, topic, and the complete standard are prefilled. Create one free, no account needed.
Also for this standard:Make a WorksheetMake a QuizMake a Sub Lesson