Discussion

You have been divided into two groups. Group A will support gradual emancipation position. Group B will support immediate emancipation. To participate in the debate, you need to research both positions. The required work will help you. Who will you be in the debate? Your character does not have to be an actual historical figure. You can be, for example, journalist, politician, teacher, a domestic servant or a sharecropper. Just make sure that you ground your analysis in academic sources and you demonstrate you have done all the required work by integrating it into your debate positions. Stay in character for your responses means if you say you are a certain name than each response should have this person's name or that of the person your are corresponding with in each response is part of the debating. Also no modern day history facts should be used...in this debate Lincoln is still alive...meaning discussing the Emancipation Proclamation is not appropriate but the rumor of it can be discussed...remember the Emancipation Proclamation was a gradual emancipation document because it only freed slaves in the Confederate states but allowed Union states to still continue slavery.

The initial post will be at least 300 words. You are then required to continue the debate by posting responses to the arguments of the opposing group. At least two responses must be at least 200 words. Beyond those initial two responses, there is no required word length. I encourage you to post more than what is required. Whatever you write should be in character. Be creative! Remember that everything you argue, although in character, must be grounded in academic research and must demonstrate you have done the required work.