Emancipation and the Thirteenth Amendment Crossword
Written by Adi Ackerman, Head Teacher
"Emancipation and the Thirteenth Amendment Crossword" is written for 8th Grade (Ages 13-14). A 7th grader who is already steady on Slavery and Abolition can use it too, and an older student can use it as a short review.


2 pages in this set
8th grade social studies worksheet: read an 1861 to 1865 fact box on contraband and the Confiscation Acts, then solve a crossword. Answer key included. Part of our abolition and emancipation collection.
How do I use this worksheet?
Start with the abolitionist profile cards and the Tubman chain. Move to the Proclamation and the crossword, then finish with the emancipation timeline.
What students will practice
- Students will read a fact box on steps toward emancipation from 1861 to 1865.
- Students will identify terms such as contraband and the Confiscation Acts.
- Students will use the facts to complete a crossword on emancipation and the 13th Amendment.

Black Abolitionists Profile Cards

The Emancipation Proclamation as a Primary Source

Emancipation Days Before and After Juneteenth

Finding Underground Railroad Destinations on a Grid

Harriet Tubman Cause and Effect Chain

Olaudah Equiano and His 1789 Narrative

The Cotton Kingdom Expands Organizer

Slaveholding and Southern Society in 1860
Curriculum Links
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FAQ
How do I use this abolition and emancipation worksheet?
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Start with the abolitionist profile cards and the Tubman chain. Move to the Proclamation and the crossword, then finish with the emancipation timeline.
What does this worksheet teach?
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Read an 1861 to 1865 fact box on contraband and the Confiscation Acts, then solve a crossword. The directions on the page read: Read the fact box. Then solve the crossword on page 2. An answer key is included.
Can I use this abolition and emancipation worksheet for homeschool or classroom?
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Yes, both. We made it for 8th grade Slavery and Abolition, and it works the same at home or at school. At home, a student can work through it alone and then go over it with you, which shows quickly what is solid and what needs another look. In class it works as independent practice, homework or a warm-up, and you can print one copy or a full set.
What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
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Issued January 1, 1863, it declared enslaved people freed only in areas in rebellion against the United States. It also opened the armed service to formerly enslaved men, and the freedom it promised depended on the Union army.
How many trips did Harriet Tubman make?
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According to the National Park Service, from 1850 to 1860 she made 13 trips to Maryland's Eastern Shore and guided more than 70 people to freedom. Few records exist, so such numbers are estimates.
What does contraband of war mean?
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In May 1861 three enslaved men escaped to the Union army at Fort Monroe, Virginia. General Benjamin Butler refused to return them, calling them contraband of war, enemy property that could be seized.
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Worksheet Details
| Grade | 8th Grade |
| Subject | Social Studies |
| Topic | Slavery and Abolition |
| Pages | 2 pages |
| Difficulty | Medium |
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Black Abolitionists Profile Cards

The Emancipation Proclamation as a Primary Source

Emancipation Days Before and After Juneteenth

Finding Underground Railroad Destinations on a Grid

Harriet Tubman Cause and Effect Chain

Olaudah Equiano and His 1789 Narrative

The Cotton Kingdom Expands Organizer

Slaveholding and Southern Society in 1860