Freedom in America History Before and Immediately After the Civil War
An essay on freedom in the United States before and immediately after the Civil War describing the efforts to expand and to abolish slavery, and the aftermath of the ultimately successful campaign to do so.
This essay should be at least 1,200 words or 4 double-spaced pages in 12 pt font with 1-inch margins on all sides of letter stock (8 ½ x 11)
Your essay must address the following six elements and each part must refer at least once to the text(find any text you need):
1A definition of freedom: how do you define it? What are its principal features?
2A description of which people (or groups) were free and which were not free in the US before the Civil War, and the criteria you used to say so.
3A discussion of why so many white Americans in the southern states were willing to fight a war to protect slavery. What was a stake for them?
4A discussion of why so many white Americans in the northern and western states were willing to fight a war to end slavery. What was at stake for them?
5A discussion of the most important missed opportunities for securing a peaceful end to enslavement without resorting to war. What events and trends in the antebellum period made going to war more likely? Under what circumstances might the US have abolished slavery without going to war?
6A conclusion in which you address whether the Civil War (i) abolished slavery; and (ii) ensured the freedom of those who had been enslaved? Why or why not?
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Freedom in American History
A Definition of Freedom
Americans identify with freedom, which represents autonomy, individual liberty, and equality. The nation's core principle has expanded to incorporate more people over time. American freedom was selectively granted to whites throughout the antebellum era. Property, self-determination, and political engagement were vital to this freedom (Williams et al. 187). The development of freedom in America before the Civil War reflects the intricate relationship between systemic injustices and societal values. While some had full rights and liberties, enslaved African Americans suffered. They were excluded from property ownership, self-determination, and political agency, revealing a paradox of freedom for some and denial for others.
This chosen freedom primarily benefited whites. This privilege peaked when they could own property, choose their fates, and engage in politics. This freedom was limited by its exclusions and defined by its inclusions. The institutionalized denial of fundamental rights to enslaved African Americans highlighted the contrasts in American culture. Thus, pre-Civil War American freedom encompassed the ideals of autonomy and individual liberty and the brutal reality of structural inclusions. This chosen independence would spark a generation of debate and reevaluation of the nation's values.
Freedom and Enslavement Before the Civil War
The concept of freedom