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Documents of Freedom, 1863 to 1865 is a free printable Grade 3 to Grade 5 social studies worksheet on comparing Civil War documents about freedom, aligned to C3 Framework indicator D2.His.10.3-5. It prints 2 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 2 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

Documents of Freedom, 1863 to 1865

D2.His.10.3-5

NameDate

Read each source, then answer the questions.

1.Look at the source, then answer the questions.

The Emancipation Proclamation

An extract from the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, during the Civil War. …all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free…

  1. 1. Which word shows how long that freedom was meant to last?
  2. 2. What was happening in the country when it was issued?
  3. 3. Who issued this document, and when?
2.Look at the source, then answer the questions.

The Thirteenth Amendment

Section 1 of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in December 1865, after the Civil War ended. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

  1. 1. How is this amendment different from a proclamation issued during a war?
  2. 2. What does Section 1 not say about the rights of people who had been enslaved?
  3. 3. What one exception does the amendment make?

LessonPrint · D2.His.10.3-5 · Set 2 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Documents of Freedom, 1863 to 1865

Set 2. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. Forever. 2. The Civil War. 3. President Abraham Lincoln, on January 1, 1863.
  2. 2.1. It is part of the Constitution and applies everywhere within the United States. 2. It does not say whether they became citizens or could vote. 3. As a punishment for crime when the party has been duly convicted.

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D2.His.10.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.