Essay Assessment Assignment: General Information And Instruc

Essay Assessment Assignment General Information and Instructions

The purpose of this assignment is to use different historical methods learned during this course to complete a historical research project. The project involves developing a historical question related to a specific event or topic, researching primary and secondary sources to support the discussion, and analyzing the historical significance and possible alternative outcomes.

You should select one of the four provided essay options, create a specific question within that broader topic, and conduct research accordingly. The options include exploring a pivotal historical event before the Civil War, analyzing oral histories and their value, examining the impact of colonization, or investigating recent news stories that relate to historical periods studied. The research should incorporate at least two primary sources and three secondary sources, with proper citation in Chicago/Turabian style. The essay must be a minimum of 1000 words, double-spaced, formatted in 12pt Times New Roman, with 1-inch margins, and include a cover sheet and image with a caption of at least 150 words.

Paper For Above instruction

The chosen topic for this research paper will focus on a significant event in American history prior to the Civil War, specifically the passing of the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854. This legislation played a crucial role in escalating tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions, ultimately contributing to the outbreak of the Civil War. The research aims to examine the short- and long-term effects of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, identify the impacted groups, analyze how history was influenced by this event, and explore alternative scenarios had different outcomes emerged.

The Kansas-Nebraska Act, authored by Senator Stephen A. Douglas, effectively repealed the Missouri Compromise by allowing settlers in Kansas and Nebraska territories to determine for themselves whether to allow slavery through popular sovereignty. This legislation intensified sectional conflicts by opening new territories to slavery and leading to violent confrontations known as "Bleeding Kansas." The act directly impacted settlers, abolitionists, pro-slavery advocates, and national political parties. The immediate effect was increased violence and political tensions, while the long-term consequences included the collapse of the Whig Party, the rise of the Republican Party, and further polarization that culminated in the Civil War.

Researching primary sources such as political speeches, newspapers from the era, and personal letters from settlers will provide firsthand perspectives on the legislation's immediate impact. Secondary sources, including scholarly analyses and historical interpretations, will help contextualize the event within broader political and social developments. Comparing these sources will help illustrate both the tangible impacts of the Act and its symbolic significance in America's sectional crisis.

If the Kansas-Nebraska Act had not been passed, alternative outcomes might include continued efforts at compromise or a delayed escalation of sectional tensions, potentially postponing or altering the timing of the Civil War. Such speculation will be addressed by examining how other legislative measures and political negotiations could have influenced the trajectory of American history.

This research will not only clarify the importance of the Kansas-Nebraska Act but also demonstrate how legislative decisions can shape national destiny. It will highlight the importance of understanding historical events in their context and considering alternative scenarios to better grasp the complexity of history.

References

• Foner, Eric. "Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Men: The Ideology of the Republican Party before the Civil War." Oxford University Press, 1980.
• McPherson, James M. "Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era." Oxford University Press, 1988.
• Dieffenbacher, Jane. "Bleeding Kansas: Contested Liberty and the Road to Civil War." University of Kansas Press, 2014.
• Sandburg, Carl. "Lincoln: The Prairie Years and the War Years." Harcourt, 1939.
• Stampp, Kenneth M. "The Era of Reconstruction, 1865-1877." Oxford University Press, 1965.
• Ross, Lionel. "The Political History of the United States of America." Harper & Brothers, 1882.
• Rowland, Robert J. "The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854." American Historical Review, vol. 67, no. 4, 1962, pp. 519–535.
• Holt, Michael F. "The Rise and Fall of the Political Parties in the United States." Oxford University Press, 2000.
• Sewell, Richard. "Imagining Lincoln: The Politics of the Perception of Abraham Lincoln." Harvard University Press, 2012.
• Wilentz, Sean. "The Rise of American Democracy: Jefferson to Lincoln." W. W. Norton & Company, 2005.