Understand one of the most important chapters in American history — and use the past perfect to show the order of past events, at B2/C1 level.
Read the text carefully, then answer the comprehension questions using the dropdown menus.
For more than two hundred years before the American Civil War, millions of enslaved African people had been forced to work on plantations in the southern United States. They had been taken from their homes in Africa, transported across the Atlantic in terrible conditions, and sold as property. By the middle of the 19th century, the economy of the South depended heavily on their unpaid labour.
The northern states, which had already abolished slavery, increasingly opposed the system. This deep disagreement finally split the country. When Abraham Lincoln, who was against the spread of slavery, was elected president in 1860, eleven southern states decided to leave the United States. The Civil War began in 1861.
The war lasted four long years and cost more lives than any other conflict in American history. In 1863, while the fighting continued, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that enslaved people in the rebel states were now free. By the time the war ended in 1865, the northern states had won, and slavery was soon abolished throughout the country.
The end of slavery, however, was not the end of the struggle. Although they had gained their freedom, formerly enslaved people and their descendants would face discrimination for many generations to come.
1 Enslaved African people were forced to work on in the South.
2 The economy of the South depended on their labour.
3 The northern states had already slavery.
4 Abraham Lincoln was against the of slavery.
5 Eleven southern states decided to the United States.
6 The Civil War began in .
7 In 1863, Lincoln issued the Proclamation.
8 The war ended in 1865 with victory for the states.
Use the past perfect (had + past participle) for the earlier of two past actions, and the past simple for the later one. Choose the correct form.
1 Before the war, millions of people forced to work as slaves.
2 When Lincoln elected, the southern states left.
3 The North had already slavery before the war began.
4 By 1865, the northern states the war.
5 The war four long years.
6 By the time the Proclamation was issued, the war already begun.
7 Although they their freedom, discrimination continued.
8 Slavery abolished throughout the country in 1865.
Choose the correct verb form. The word in brackets is the verb you need.
1 When the war , tension had been building for years. (start)
2 By 1860, the North against slavery. (turn)
3 Lincoln the election in 1860. (win)
4 The states left after Lincoln president. (become)
5 The war four years. (last)
6 They were free because Lincoln the Proclamation. (sign)
7 Slavery abolished in 1865. (be)
8 Although they freedom, discrimination continued. (gain)
Write a short text (100–130 words) about an important historical event or period you have learned about. Explain what happened and what had happened before it. Use the past simple and at least three examples of the past perfect.
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