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What Is The Role Of Slavery In The 1800's

Satisfactory Essays

Attention Grabbing Strategy: Slavery was at its worst in the story of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. A cruel master whipped his slave to his death, but before he died, his slave forgave him for all wrongdoings he committed. This forced a slave named Eliza to escape with her child so they would not risk brutal punishment. These two stories horrified slaves and slaveholders alike; the fact that masters could be so brutal and that slaves could so easily run away terrified the nation. Topic Sentence: Abolitionism was a very significant issue and reform in the 1800’s. Background Information: Many states had already opposed slavery by 1792. Slave trades were ending in the United States and shipping communities no longer …show more content…

Specific Evidence: Slaves were treated as items rather than people. They would be traded when gambling, given as gifts to others, or offered as security for loans. If they owned a gun, they would be whipped multiple times and stripped of their firearms. They were not allowed to be educated and marriages were not legal. Any meeting between slaves was forbidden unless accompanied by a white person. In Southern areas of the United States, very few African Americans were free, and they were forced to pay increased taxes and live apart from white people. African Americans in the North were not allowed to vote, be part of the government, or attend any schools or churches where white people were present. Elaboration of point and evidence: African Americans did not have as many rights as white people had in the 1800’s, and were treated with disrespect at the very least. Whites were violent and malicious towards African Americans and it was nearly impossible to survive in the conditions that whites were providing. Clincher: This required abolitionists to take a stand and promote the freedom of all races. Significance: Slavery was a very significant reform because abolitionists worked so hard to eradicate the system. Slaves were being treated horribly and it was time that someone put a stop to it. Abolitionists did so much to abolish this practice, and so many …show more content…

Specific Evidence: Many people were involved in abolitionism, though doing it in several different ways. Dred Scott fought for the right to testify in court, David Walker published an intense article on slavery, William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass began newspapers based on abolitionism and slavery, and Elizabeth Cody Stanton and Susan B. Anthony spoke out against slavery at the Seneca Falls Convention. These people and many more increased the number of free states in the United States, ran away from slaveholders and helped other slaves do the same, wrote several articles and stories about experiences with slavery, and even killed for the cause of freedom across the United States. Elaboration of point and evidence: One event that occurred by passionate abolitionists was John Brown’s Raid. He stole weapons from the federal arsenal and distributed them amongst slaves in order to force a rebellion. However, all men who participated either died or were captured, and Brown was given a death penalty for treason. Clincher: Abolitionists and slaves themselves went to great lengths to abolish slavery. While some took the route of newspaper articles and stories, others chose a more drastic approach by fighting for their rights. Significance: No matter what their approach, slavery was an extremely significant issue that many

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