Slavery Dbq Essay

Slavery, an immoral action in which African Americans were forced to work under harsh and inhuman conditions without pay and treated as property, occurred for 245 countries years in the Unites States. In modern day this in no longer an issue that is widely dealt with on a daily bases unlike during the 17th to 19th where it was a common day to day thing that at first many would overlook. It was such a huge issue especially during the 19th century in which it caused major political controversies due to the separation of sides based on it if was constitutional, immoral, and support the to help slaves.

All through document a it is seen that slavery was the reason for political disputes. First the document states that each state should be allowed to control and make their own judgement on political matters (document A). Across

this it is seen that the possible reason for this statement is that some states wanted to make their own decisions on the slavery issue considering that a couple days before the Constitutional Union Party took place. The Constitutional Union Party which were a group that wanted to avoid the withdrawal of slavery. Here it is seen that slavery is causing a political dispute because in the second part of the document it is seen that, what seems to be another political group, disagrees with the slavery issue. This can be depicted when they use the argument that the United States consists of freedom and that congress should protect it no matter the person it is, in this case slaves (document A). This two pieces demonstrate conflict because in the end no solution is taken into place and a separation occurs.
In document b the perspective of Ralph W. Emerson, a 47-year-old American philosopher who led the transcendentalist movement, on The Fugitive Slave Law is seen as a politically negative standpoint. Across the document Emerson evidently explains that the law is so immoral that it has to be violated and it does not follow the Constitution making it disunion (document B). This leads to a dispute on what should be done. Emerson believes that it should be violated at any cost and the political branch that is at fault is the Congress. The manner in which this causes a dispute is that this philosopher may be sharing his ideas with followers from his previous movement. Eventually this causes a separation between those in favor of his political idea and those against. Those against may disagree with his point and say that slavery does not matter, but keeping the Union together does. Through this separation of thoughts once again a political controversy occurs based on the decision of Congress, who are responsible for the assurance that all laws passed follow the constitution.
For the duration of document c, William L.

Garrison, an American abolitionist reveals a different political controversy on slavery. He believes that neither slavery nor the Union should exist for the reason that these slaves are Americans whom are being crushed under the Union (document C). What Garrison means by this is that Americans, in other words slaves, are being overworked and the adequate attention is not being brought to the subject. Instead all the government wants to do is keep the Union together and if the Union is causing this now it must be overthrown in order to receive freedom. Here, the slavery topic brings political controversy especially since Garrison makes it clear that if the Union with holds slaves, they, the abolitionist, will separate from the union because they wish to hold no innocent blood of innocent Americans (document C). This may create an even larger dispute now since now there are 3 major ways in which the situation is looked upon. The people of the country, at that time had a choice to either be in favor of the Union and slavery, in favor of the union and against slavery, or against both the Union and

slavery.
The reason for which this may cause a political dispute is that the poster is being publicly displayed. Its displacement to the public may cause the catching and kidnapping, ordered by the mayor, to be less effective, therefore a punishment may be given to the person who created the poster and put it up. This poster is assured to be seen by many no matter what because although it may not be bright and colorful it contains different font size and style on every couple of words. Along with this there is the word hound displayed on the poster to indirectly represent the kidnappers and slave catchers. This may be taken as a form of sarcasm due to the symbolism behind a hound is usually loyalty, protection, good luck, and guidance and this are things that the kidnappers and slave catchers are not providing towards the slaves. These factors may cause political arguments towards what should be done towards the person who is publicly support the slaves and the form and words they use to do so.
It is without doubt that slavery was overall the cause for most political controversies during the 19th century. The evidence within the documents is able to successfully reinforce this idea through the the separation of sides based on if slavery was constitutional, immoral, and the support others provided to help the slaves.