Readers Theatre

Information: Directions:
This is a readers theatre script that can be used as an activity when teaching the
grade three South Carolina social studies indicator 3-4.3 (Explain the reasons for
South Carolinas secession from the Union, including the abolitionist movement and
the concept of states rights). This readers theatre script just focuses on part of the
indicator: reasons for South Carolinas secession from the Union. The readers
theatre script is intended to be used as an activity after students have already learned
about the different reasons for South Carolina secession from the Union.

Directions:
Give each student a part in the readers theatre script (example: Person 1 is Emilys
part, Person 2 is Jonahs part, etc.). This script is made for a class of twenty students,
however you may adapt this script to fit the needs of your class. You may need to
add or take away parts depending on how many students are in your classroom or
you could give strong readers two parts. When assigning students parts in the script,
think about your stronger readers, weaker readers, shy students and student who like
to speak in front of the classThis can help you determine which students should be
given a longer or shorter part to read.

Readers theatre Script:

South Carolinas Secession from the United States
Person 1: By 1860, the Northern and Southern states wanted very different things.
Person 2: The United States government issued a special tax called a Tariff. This
tax raised the cost of goods coming into the country.
Person 3: People from the South did not want to be taxed. They thought it was
unfair.
Person 4-Southerner: I dont want to be taxed! (Speak in an angry loud voice.)
Person 5-Southerner: The tariff tax is silly! It is unfair! (Speak in an angry loud
voice.)
Person 6: The North and South did not agree upon slavery. Many Southerners
depended on slaves to do their hard work, like harvesting their crops. Northerners
wanted slavery to end.
Person 7-Notherner: We must put an end to slavery! Freedom for all! (Loud
voice with expression)
Person 8-Southerner: But slaves do such a wonderful job working on our
plantations. We dont want to do the work ourselves! (Use expression)
Person 9: The North and South were becoming divided over important issues.
Person 10: Leaders met to discuss whether the South should secede from the
Country.
Person 11: During the meeting, men wrote the Ordinance of Secession and all the
member signed it. This meant that South Carolina was leaving the Union.
Person 12: People began to celebrate. Some people in South Carolina were happy
to leave the Union.
Person 1, 3, 9 and 10: (Cheer loudly)

Person 13-South Carolinian happy to have left the union: The North can
no longer control us! (loud, happy voice)
Person 14-South Carolinian happy to have left the union: No more silly
taxes. (loud, happy voice)
Person 15-South Carolinian happy to have left the union: We can make
our own decisions! (loud happy voice)
Person 16-South Carolinian happy to have left the union: We can live
how we want. (loud, happy voice)
Person 12: But not all people in South Carolina were happy to leave the Union.
Person 2, 4, 5 and 8: (Sigh loudly and make crying noises)
Person 17-South Carolinian unhappy to have left the union: What will
the future hold for us? (sad, upset voice)
Person 18-South Carolinian unhappy to have left the union: Will people
from the North still buy our cotton? (sad, upset voice)
Person 19-South Carolinian unhappy to have left the union: Now
Slavery will continue in South Carolina (sad, upset voice)
Person 20-South Carolinian unhappy to have left the union: Everyone
should have equal rights!! Slavery is not fair! (loud, sad and upset voice)