why the white southern view that slavery had nothing to do with the Civil War is incorrect

I am looking for: how you use evidence to support your position and whether you make a clear argument.

Essay Prompt

Since the midterm exam, we have been exploring how the South and the North developed into two separate communities, divided by their economic, cultural and political views.  We have seen how that divide led to polarization in America’s national politics and ultimately led to the Civil War, which killed upwards of 750,000 Americans. 

Following the end of Reconstruction, white southerners argued that the cause of the war was not about keeping slavery legal, but about the North’s aggressive attack on their culture and heritage, and some white southerners today still agree with this argument, argue that slavery had nothing to do with the war, and argue that their ancestors never believed in white supremacy.  Historians, and most Americans, disagree with this view.

For your final exam essay, use the sources listed below to explain why the white southern view that slavery had nothing to do with the Civil War is incorrect.

You should examine
1) the attitudes and beliefs of white southerners before the war about slavery (ch. 11-13 and related lectures, documents B, C, F and K in the packet linked below are relevant here)

2) the conflicts over slavery in the 1850s through to the end of the war including the reasons southerners said they were fighting (chapters 14-15 and related lectures, documents L and M, which is required are relevant here – see documents link below).

3) a brief discussion of the consequences of the war in terms of how white southerners viewed Black equality (chapter 16).

Sources, Requirements for Use and How to Cite Them

The sources you are allowed to use are as follows – note what is required and what is optional:

The textbook, The American Journey, chapters 11-16 (required).

Cite if used for information or a quote: (Goldfield, 125), which is the author’s last name and page number).

Lectures provided in the modules for Weeks 5, 6 and 7 (One required, others optional – your choice)

Cite my lectures like this (Kerr lecture); Crash Course lectures cite with the name Green and one word from the tile.

Primary Sources from This Packet of Documents (link) Download This Packet of Documents (link)for This Period (choose at least three documents, Document M is REQUIRED).

Document B – George Fitzhugh, The Universal Law of Slavery, excerpt 

Cite if used for information or quoted: (Fitzhugh)

Document C – Harriet Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, excerpt

Cite if used for information or quoted:  (Jacobs)

Document F – William Lloyd Garrison, I Will Be Heard, excerpt

Cite if used for information or quoted: (Garrison)

Document K – Frederick Douglass, What to the Slave is the 4th of July?, excerpt

Cite if used for information or quoted: (Douglass)

Document L – Excerpt from the Supreme Court Decision, Dred Scott v. Sanford

Cite if used for information or quoted: (Dred Scott)

Document M – Three Southern State Statements on Why They Seceded (this is REQUIRED)

Cite if used for information or quoted: (Secession)

Hints and Helps (Including a Suggested Outline)

Okay, at this point you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed.  Professor Kerr, you might ask, how am I going to do such a thing?  Actually, while this might seem overwhelming, I am not asking you write a book on this topic, but to use some sources to make an argument.  I will be grading you on how you make an argument, and how you use evidence to support that argument, which is pretty much what you’ve been doing all along.

Here is an outline to help you plug in your information:

Paragraph 1 – Introduction 

• • introduce the topic using the information I provided in the prompt to help you set up what the essay is about
  • provide a thesis statement taking your position and establishing the arguments you will make to support your statement.

Body of Essay – Three Paragraphs – possibly four if you expand on anything below)

The body of your essay will make your arguments about why the Civil War was about slavery.  See the prompt for the three items I ask you to examine and make each of those items at least one paragraph in your argument. 

Paragraph 2:

1) the attitudes and beliefs of white southerners before the war about slavery (ch. 11-13 and related lectures, documents B, C, F and K are relevant here)

Paragraph 3 

2) the conflicts over slavery in the 1850s through to the end of the war including the reasons southerners said they were fighting (chapters 14-15 and related lectures, documents L and M, which is required are relevant here).

Paragraph 4

3) a brief discussion of the consequences of the war in terms of how white southerners viewed Black equality (chapter 16).

Paragraph 5 – Conclusion

Sum up your arguments and bring to a thoughtful close by considering a link from past to present.

Formatting Guidelines

• Name and date in upper left corner, single spaced
• Double space your essay and use standard 1″ margins, font size and style.
• Make sure that you divide your paragraphs clearly by indenting the first line of each paragraph.
• Cite all sources used for information or quoted – see the way to cite each source in the Sources section above.
• No outside sources.  Any use, whether copied or paraphrased, will result in a 0 on the exam.
• Use of AI to write your paper will both result in a 0 on the essay but also a report to Student Services for violation of my syllabus and assignment policies.
• Length – between 1,000-1,500 words.

Final Thoughts – I know that you all can do this. Follow the directions, especially the outline, make sure you use the variety of sources I’ve asked for, and make some arguments and you will do fine.  I’m confident that all of you have the ability to do this!  Good luck and good writing – and as always, you are absolutely allowed to ask me questions an get guidance on this exam – I am happy to provide answers to you.