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Civil War Dbq

Decent Essays

When examining defining moments in history, one must first analyze what led to the central event. In this case, one sees that the years following the American Revolution were very important to the historical timeline. During the 19th century, two regions with very different beliefs strongly contradicted each other. This plagued the nation, ultimately leading to the decimating battle of The Civil War. It is evident that the rapid expansion of slavery during this time unfolded and ignited a series of controversies that were evident in the political, economic, and social problems that slavery’s expansion created. First, the North and South had very different political beliefs. Southern society strayed from that of the North. The South’s fight …show more content…

There was a growing demand for workers in the cultivation of these profitable crops such as tobacco, rice, sugar cane and cotton specifically, which was in large demand especially after the invention of the cotton gin. However, “ The lust for profits led southerners to ignore concerns over the morality of slavery” ( Tindall & Shi 361). The severe savagery and racism that followed with the quest for profit was just another conflict over the expansion that led to the Civil War. The horrendous treatment of slaves in the Old South was exposed in a variety of articles and readings, one being the famous novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, that supported abolition, “ Exposé’s of the dark side of southern culture portrayed the planters as arrogant aristocrats who raped enslaved women, brutalized slaves, and lorded over their communities with haughty disdain” (Tindall and Shi 361 ). Slavery became a large source of this mass economic development, so it is no surprise that “ the twelve richest countries in the U.S. by 1860 were all in the South” (Tindall & Shi 365). While history was created by changes in the economy and the political realm, it is the social problems expansion created that are most remembered regarding …show more content…

“ The experience was as varied as people are” (Tindall & Shi 376). Those who were enslaved often endured unjustifiable treatment, and if not a victim of the cruelty themselves, the pure sight of others being mistreated had a deep effect. As we see in Frederick Douglass’s autobiography, Douglass faced countless bad experiences, but it is apparent that others definitely suffered more. Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey encountered some moral humans in his experiences that ultimately provided moments of light in his life of unrelenting punishment. Although Douglass experienced very little kindness, it was not unheard of. One prime example of the humane treatment of slaves was the large rice plantation of Jehossee Island. Aiken did not succumb to pressure and treated slaves like fellow human beings. “Aiken was very considerate of the slaves in his work requirements on the plantation” (Clifton 63) Aiken was similar to Douglass’s master Hugh. Douglass was exposed to cruelties at an early age. He referred to his mothers death as basically being a stranger’s death. Douglass’s experiences helped to paint a picture of the overall ‘ slave experience’. He talks about how he always used to listen to the slaves sing spirituals and how the naive slaveholders thought the songs they sang stemmed from feelings of contentedness and happiness. This was not the case. “ The songs of the slaves represented sorrows of his heart” (Douglass). “Every

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