As the new nation of America struggled with the issue of slavery, in what ways did the nation try to resolve this problem?

Your report will contain an introduction, a discussion that will provide information about the historical events related to the question, and a reflection section for your personal writing. You will select one thesis statement from the options below.

· The issue of slavery in America intensified as Western states were added to the nation.

· The rift between slave and free states led to several legislative acts to alleviate growing tensions between North and South in the Antebellum years.

· The Civil War was the inevitable result of the tensions between North and South.

The contents of your report will be guided by a selected thesis statement. The thesis statement will go in your introduction paragraph. The purpose of the thesis is to describe the main points you will prove in the paper. The thesis statement within the introduction asserts directly and succinctly exactly what the paper is about.

Introduction

In your introduction section, complete each step listed in the bullets below. Your answer should be two paragraphs in length:

In the first paragraph,

· Identify the historical question being answered by this paper.

· Provide a short overview of the historical question and what this paper will cover.

· Identify the thesis that you will be discussing in this paper.

In the second paragraph:

· Describe the background for how America came to its struggle with the issue of slavery.

Discussion

In your discussion section, complete each step listed in the bullets below. Your answer should be 1–2 paragraphs:

· Focusing on the ways in which slavery increasingly became a bigger and more divisive issue in America, describe the following in detail:

. Who was involved?

. What happened

. When did it happen?

. Where did it happen?

. According to the experts, why did it happen?

· Rely on the webtext and two additional sources from the list provided below. One of the additional sources should be a primary source and the other should be a secondary source.

Reflection

In your reflection section, answer each of the questions listed below with your own observations and perspectives. No sources should be used in this section, and there is no one right or wrong answer because we all have unique experiences. Your answer should be 1–2 paragraphs in length.

· Are the circumstances similar to anything you’ve experienced or noticed in society today?

· Why or why not?

· How are they different?

· How are they similar?

Note: This course requires the use of Strayer Writing Standards. For assistance and information, please refer to the Strayer Writing Standards link in the left-hand menu of your course. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.

The specific course learning outcome associated with this assignment is:

· Examine the impact of slavery and its role in dividing the nation.

Sources

Primary Sources

Thesis: The issue of slavery in America intensified as Western states were added to the nation.

· Transcript of Northwest Ordinance (1787) . (Note Art. 6 at the end of document).

· Report of the Committee, 1 March 1874 (Thomas Jefferson’s views on slavery).

· Speech of the Honorable Charles Sumner Against the Repeal of the Prohibition of Slavery in Frederick Douglass’ Landmark of Freedom Newspaper (March 10, 1854).

Thesis: The rift between slave and free states led to several legislative acts to alleviate growing tensions between North and South in the Antebellum years.

· The Three-Fifth Compromise (1787).

· Transcript of Missouri Compromise (1820) .

· Transcript of Compromise of 1850 .

· Transcript of Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) .

· Transcript of Dred Scott v. Stanford (1857) .

Thesis: The Civil War was the inevitable result of the tensions between North and South.

· The Slavery Controversy: The Only Way to Settle It (National Era newspaper editorial on the threat of national dissolution because of slavery, Nov. 6, 1856).

· The Slavery Agitation (North Star newspaper editorial on the rising tensions between the North and South, June 27. 1850).

Secondary Sources

Thesis: The issue of slavery in America intensified as Western states were added to the nation.

· How U.S. Westward Expansion Breathed New Life Into Slavery .

· Slavery in the Far West (CA, CO, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA) .

Thesis: The rift between slave and free states led to several legislative acts to alleviate growing tensions between North and South in the Antebellum years.

· The Sources of Anti-Slavery Constitutionalism in America, 1760–1848 .

· The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States (2nd ed.): Slavery .

Thesis: The Civil War was the inevitable result of the tensions between North and South.

· Disunion!: The Coming of the American Civil War, 1789–1859 .

· Was War Inevitable?

· The Oxford Companion to United States History: Civil War: Causes .