(1) Pay attention to this note: There is no “right” way to answer this question; it depends on how you weight and analyze the evidence. However, it’s likely not correct to claim that slavery or sectionalism or economic circumstances (one or more of these) did not play a role — it’s definitive that all three did. Your job here is weight, prioritize and establish interrelationships through analyzing the evidence, and then explain why you’ve concluded what you’ve concluded. You’re not necessarily being asked to establish a “list” prioritized according to “importance”; it’s more important to explain how the three factors worked (together) in furthering the conflict that led to war. Read that last sentence again. It’s a significant help-hint. But of course you can state that, based on the evidence and your analysis, one factor was more important than another – if you you think the evidence merits it.
(2) You’ll be graded on the methods and mechanics of the essay, and not on your conclusions or opinions. Of course, there are limits to this; one limit has been stated above: all three factors are important; none should be completely dismissed. But generally speaking, this is an exercise in using factual historical material (and subsequent analysis by historians and commentators you may or may not agree with) to come up with your own interpretations – which are, hopefully, founded on facts. So in this essay, the facts are extremely important and they need to be specifically used and stated. But facts alone will not answer the essay problem: a generalized and narrative description of slavery, for example –however powerful it may be — will not, on its own, suffice; likewise a deep description of the politics of sectionalism will not suffice, either.
(3) As always, it’s important to define your terms first. In this case, the three factors you’re being asked to analyze: slavery, sectionalism and economic circumstances. In the context of American history before the Civil War, what do the terms mean? What do they describe?
(4) The toughest, most conceptual part of this essay lies in establishing the necessary connections (interrelationships) between the three factors. Slavery was, in part, an economic institution; antislavery fears and ideas defined some of the significant (“sectional”) differences between North and South; the “cash crop” economic ties between the South and Europe created hostility between North and South and reinforced the institution of slavery — three examples of connections. You’ll need to get into these connections with some depth and detail in your analysis; I suspect it’ll probably be a big part of the difference between “A” and “C” essays. (I just gave you three examples; use and develop them and perhaps come up with one or two of your own.)
(5) So…. State your thesis, define your terms/factors, give factual context (events, ideas in some sort of order – chronological, topical or otherwise) , analyze the connections/interrelationships between the three factors (and prioritize if you like), and conclude.
(6) As always, I’ll be looking for evidence of effort, use of factual materials from the section materials and your own research, a coherent and cogent analysis including a solid conclusion, good writing and use of citations and a bibliography.(1) Pay attention to this note: There is no “right” way to answer this question; it depends on how you weight and analyze the evidence. However, it’s likely not correct to claim that slavery or sectionalism or economic circumstances (one or more of these) did not play a role — it’s definitive that all three did. Your job here is weight, prioritize and establish interrelationships through analyzing the evidence, and then explain why you’ve concluded what you’ve concluded. You’re not necessarily being asked to establish a “list” prioritized according to “importance”; it’s more important to explain how the three factors worked (together) in furthering the conflict that led to war. Read that last sentence again. It’s a significant help-hint. But of course you can state that, based on the evidence and your analysis, one factor was more important than another – if you you think the evidence merits it.
(2) You’ll be graded on the methods and mechanics of the essay, and not on your conclusions or opinions. Of course, there are limits to this; one limit has been stated above: all three factors are important; none should be completely dismissed. But generally speaking, this is an exercise in using factual historical material (and subsequent analysis by historians and commentators you may or may not agree with) to come up with your own interpretations – which are, hopefully, founded on facts. So in this essay, the facts are extremely important and they need to be specifically used and stated. But facts alone will not answer the essay problem: a generalized and narrative description of slavery, for example –however powerful it may be — will not, on its own, suffice; likewise a deep description of the politics of sectionalism will not suffice, either.
(3) As always, it’s important to define your terms first. In this case, the three factors you’re being asked to analyze: slavery, sectionalism and economic circumstances. In the context of American history before the Civil War, what do the terms mean? What do they describe?
(4) The toughest, most conceptual part of this essay lies in establishing the necessary connections (interrelationships) between the three factors. Slavery was, in part, an economic institution; antislavery fears and ideas defined some of the significant (“sectional”) differences between North and South; the “cash crop” economic ties between the South and Europe created hostility between North and South and reinforced the institution of slavery — three examples of connections. You’ll need to get into these connections with some depth and detail in your analysis; I suspect it’ll probably be a big part of the difference between “A” and “C” essays. (I just gave you three examples; use and develop them and perhaps come up with one or two of your own.)
(5) So…. State your thesis, define your terms/factors, give factual context (events, ideas in some sort of order – chronological, topical or otherwise) , analyze the connections/interrelationships between the three factors (and prioritize if you like), and conclude.
(6) As always, I’ll be looking for evidence of effort, use of factual materials from the section materials and your own research, a coherent and cogent analysis including a solid conclusion, good writing and use of citations and a bibliography.