Assignment 2: Liberty Challenged in Nineteenth Century America Thesis and Outline
America became a free independent nation. With the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783, the former mother country, England, recognized that its children, the colonies, were now on their own. A constitutional republic was birthed, thus the challenges began.
Slavery, the "Peculiar Institution," was a monumental issue facing the country. Would it die or would it survive and possibly take a nation divided with it? This sectionalism followed Americans up into the Civil War. Dissect this crisis by addressing parts I and II below.
For the next part of this assignment you will create an outline of the main points you want to address in this paper. This will serve as the basis for your Assignment 2.2 Final Draft.
Part 1:
1. Write a thesis statement that is one to two (1-2) sentences long in which you:
a. State your thesis on the significance of this slavery issue, as exemplified in your research. Justify your response.
For the first part of this assignment you will create a thesis statement. A thesis statement is usually a single sentence somewhere in your first paragraph that presents your main idea to the reader. The body of the essay organizes the material you gather and present in support of your main idea. Keep in mind that a thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself.
Part 2:
For the next part of this assignment you will create an outline of the main points you want to address in this paper. This will serve as the basis for your Assignment 2.2 Final Draft.
2. Write a one to two (1-2) page outline in which you:
a. Describe two (2) outcomes of the 3/5ths Compromise, Missouri Compromise of 1820, Compromise of 1850, Kansas-Nebraska Act, and the Dred Scott Decision. Note: Be sure to provide two (2) outcomes for each legislation.
b. Suggest three (3) reasons why slavery was and is incompatible with our political and economic system.
c. List three to five (3-5) driving forces that led to the Civil War.