History 211 Document Assignment Details Due Monday April ✓ Solved

History 211 Document Assignmentkey Details Due Monday April 23 3 5

History 211 Document Assignment key details: Due Monday, April 23; 3-5 typed pages; topic requires instructor approval by April 1. Primary sources are essential for understanding history. Using documents from the relevant time period—such as letters, speeches, diaries, newspapers, films, songs, photographs, or paintings—is necessary for analysis. The source must be from American history and from the specific period studied. You will select and evaluate one primary document, ideally a written source but other types are acceptable with approval.

In your analysis, address these questions: (1) Briefly describe the document—what it is, who authored it, when, and its purpose, in about one paragraph. (2) Place the document in historical context, explaining the circumstances—events and cultural trends—that surround it, tailored specifically to your document’s period, over two or more paragraphs. (3) Analyze the document’s argument, intent, and cultural reflection. Include specific quotes from the source to support your points. Discuss why the document was created, what it tries to persuade, and how it helps us understand American thoughts, actions, and experiences during that era. This section should be the core of your essay, which is expected to be 3-5 pages, double-spaced.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

This essay provides a detailed analysis of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, exemplifying how primary documents serve to deepen our understanding of American history during the Civil War. The paper includes description, contextual background, and close reading of the speech to articulate its significance in its historical moment.

Document Description

Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863, during the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Authored and spoken by Lincoln, it was intended to honor fallen Union soldiers and redefine the principles of the Civil War. The speech was brief but powerful, emphasizing national unity, liberty, and equality. Its purpose was to rally support for the Union war effort and to articulate the moral foundation of the ongoing conflict.

Historical Context

The Gettysburg Address was delivered four months after the Battle of Gettysburg, a pivotal Union victory that turned the tide of the Civil War. The nation was deeply divided, with many Americans questioning the purpose and morality of the war. Lincoln’s speech took place amid ongoing political debates over slavery, states' rights, and national unity. The abolitionist movement and the Emancipation Proclamation had already begun to shift public opinion towards ending slavery and defining the war as a moral crusade. The cultural climate of patriotism, sacrifice, and the pursuit of a more perfect Union formed the backdrop for Lincoln’s words.

Analysis of the Document

Lincoln’s main argument was rooted in the ideals of equality and national purpose. He emphasized that the nation was founded on principles of liberty, and that these principles must be preserved despite the sacrifices made by soldiers. Lincoln states, “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” This invocation ties the Civil War effort to the foundational ideals of America. The central message was that the Union soldiers’ sacrifice was to ensure that a government "of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

Furthermore, Lincoln sought to elevate the moral purpose of the war, framing it as a test of whether a nation conceived in liberty could endure. His words reflect a cultural context shaped by debates over slavery and the future of American democracy. Although the speech does not explicitly mention slavery, it implicitly condemns the dismantling of the nation’s core ideals. The brevity of the speech underscores its role as a succinct reminder of shared values amidst the turmoil. Lincoln’s tone and language evoke patriotism, unity, and moral clarity, which were especially significant during a time of national crisis.

Lincoln’s speech shaped the American identity by reaffirming the principles of equality and liberty. It clarified that the sacrifices made by soldiers were dedicated not just to victory, but to an enduring moral vision. The Gettysburg Address remains a cornerstone document illustrating the interplay of cultural values, national ideals, and political purpose during one of the most defining periods of American history.

References

• Blight, David W. American Oracle: The Civil War in the Civil Rights Era. Rowman & Littlefield, 2009.
• McPherson, James M. Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. Oxford University Press, 1988.
• Sandburg, Carl. Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years and The War Years. Harcourt, 1926.
• Guelzo, Allen C. Lincoln’s Greatest Speech: The Second Inaugural. Oxford University Press, 2002.
• Wills, Garry. . Simon & Schuster, 1992.