To answer this question correctly, students must draw on their understanding of the past to determine whether the document was from the platform of the Republican Party or the Democratic Party in 1860. Successful responses will explain that the passage reflects the Republican Party's opposition to the expansion of slavery at the time, a position not held by the Democratic Party.
Level: Proficient
Student explains that this was a part of the platform of the Republican Party because it reflects the Republican opposition to the expansion of slavery at the the time and not the Democratic position.
Level: Emergent
Student decides that the passage was part of the Republican platform but provides vague reasoning.
OR
Student decides that the passage was part of the Republican platform, but their answer makes both correct and incorrect or unclear statements about the differences between the parties’ positions or about the content of the document.
OR
Student shows a correct understanding of the differences between the Republican and Democratic positions on slavery in 1860 but selects the Democratic Party’s platform, presumably because they have misunderstood the content of the document.
Level: Basic
Student’s explanation shows a significant misunderstanding about the differences between Democratic and Republican positions at the time, regardless of which party they selected.
OR
Student’s explanation is incorrect, unclear, or unrelated to the differences between Republicans and Democrats and the time, regardless of which party they selected.
