1.
An
essay question is given below. This question constitutes a controversial issue
in the Civil War period. will be graded on how well you employ historical
evidence in order to prove your thesis statement and your supporting arguments.
3.
will
be graded on the quality of your explanation and on the breadth and suitability
of the historical examples given. Your essay should be relevant to the
question, and the information presented in a clear, logical and coherent
fashion.
4.
What
matters for this paper is quality over quantity; namely, if you can beautifully
articulate your point. However, the more relevant evidence you adduce, the more
convincing your arguments, and, thus, the better your grade.
5.
You
must cite your sources!
6.
Just
make sure that you consult credible academic sources and be wary of sources
like Wikipedia!
7.
how
to identify historical significance, how to analyze historical primary sources,
and how to construct a historical argument. one rule historians live by is
to always contextualize their subject! That means that when
you judge Lincoln in your essay, you may not judge him against 21st century
standards. To hold a historical subject against one’s own modern standards
makes for very bad history. Therefore, when you examine Lincoln or cast your
judgment on him, compare him to his peers and judge him against the standards
of the 19th century. This will make you sound like a
professional and objective historian.
Basic Principles for History
Essays
1. Good
historical essays are sharply focused on a limited topic.
2. Historical
essays should have a clearly stated argument (thesis).
3. Historical
essays are built, step by step, on carefully acknowledged evidence.
4. Historical
essays should include original, dispassionate thoughts of the author.
5. History
essays are clearly written with an intended audience in mind.
This is an example of how
it should be written
“Were American Indians the
Victims of Genocide?” by Guenter Lewy
–Introduction: Lewy introduces
the problem, namely, that it is common for historians to deem the Indians’
plight in American History as intentional genocide on the part of
Euro-Americans. He presents numerous historiography in order to validate this
problem. He then presents his thesis: “That American Indians suffered horribly
is indisputable. But whether their suffering amounted to a ‘holocaust,’ or to
genocide, is another matter” (45).
–Body: First argument: Most
Indians died of infectious diseases brought by the Europeans—does not prove
genocidal intent. There is no conclusive evidence of biological warfare being
used against the Indians intentionally. The U.S. government even tried to
inoculate the Indians against smallpox.
Second argument: The Pequot
Massacre (1636) is not evidence of genocidal intent. He cites that the Indians
had been torturing prisoners outside the forts and threatening villages, so the
Puritans reacted out of self-protection—not necessarily out of intent to commit
genocide. Same issue with King Philip’s War (1675/76). The council in Boston
still would punish colonists who cruelly murdered Indians.
Third argument: warfare on the
Plains against Indians usually followed the rules of war. The U.S. army under
Sherman and Sheridan were combating Indians raids. Methods of destroying lodges
and stores of food in order to force the Indians into submission. Ex. of
Wounded Knee—“tragic accident of war” (50). He notes that some Indian women and
children were allowed out of the encampment and wounded Indian warriors were
given medical care.
Fourth argument: under the
definition of genocide stipulated by the General Assembly of the United
Nations, the deaths of Indians do not constitute genocide because they were not
intentionally aimed at destroying the Indians as a cultural group. Exception of
California Indian atrocities.
–Conclusion: Lewy argues that
one must always contextualize their judgment of historical actors. Namely, one
cannot impose the values or standards of one’s own time period on past
societies, which did not necessarily share the same values and standards.
Overall, Lewy claims the conduct of war mostly followed the standards of right
and wrong for the respective time period. In America’s case, genocide was more
an individual guilt—not the whole nation or the government’s intention.
And this is
the topic for the essay Please professionally respond to the following question thank you.
Does Abraham Lincoln deserve the title “The
Great Emancipator?” Say why/why not.