Which Side Do You Think Was Responsible For The Violence In ✓ Solved

Which side do you think was responsible for the violence in Kansas, the North or the South?

Read the article, “Civil War in Kansas – Reading” (located in the “Week 6” module) and write a response to the assignment question below. The response for each question should be at least 150 words. Students are welcome to go over the minimum word count requirement. If you include the question in your response, it does not count toward the word count requirement.

The response should be written in complete sentences. The response should be written in your own words. DO NOT use quotes from the article. These responses will be evaluated on how well the responses reflect the information presented in the article. Students should submit their responses as ONE Word doc or PDF file to Canvas.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

The violence in Kansas during the mid-1850s was a result of intense conflicts between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions, each driven by differing principles and motives. From a perspective of fair treatment, it is essential to evaluate which side violated and which upheld the principles of justice and fairness. Based on the historical account, the Southern pro-slavery advocates, especially those from Missouri, frequently violated principles of fair treatment by engaging in illegal voting practices, intimidation, and violence to enforce their interests. For instance, the illegal crossing of Missouri residents into Kansas to cast fraudulent votes undermined the democratic process, violating the principle of fair and equal participation. Additionally, their violent actions such as the sacking of Lawrence and the retaliatory attacks, including the murder at Pottawatomie Creek, reflected a blatant disregard for peaceful conflict resolution and a respect for law and order.

Conversely, the anti-slavery factions, despite facing violent provocations and frequent hostility, often attempted to maintain order and uphold the rule of law. The formation of their own government and the drafting of a free-state constitution signify their effort to resolve the slavery issue through lawful means and democratic processes. However, even among anti-slavery groups, there were acts of violence, such as John Brown's raid and the brutal murders at Pottawatomie Creek, which complicate the assessment of moral responsibility. Nonetheless, the primary responsibility for the violence can be attributed to the pro-slavery advocates, especially the Missouri residents who illegally voted and engaged in acts of terror to impose their will. Their actions fundamentally violated the principle of fairness by undermining legit democratic procedures and resorting to violence to enforce their interests.

In conclusion, based on the principles of fair treatment and justice, the violence in Kansas was predominantly caused by pro-slavery forces that violated these principles through illegal voting, intimidation, and violent attacks. Their actions severely compromised the democratic process and the rule of law, fueling the cycle of violence that marked Kansas as a battleground over the issue of slavery.

References

• Foner, Eric. Reconstruction: America’s Unfinished Revolution, 1863–1877. Harper & Row, 1988.
• McPherson, James M. Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. Oxford University Press, 1988.
• Shannon, Timothy J. The Dispossessed: An Anatomy of Exile. Notre Dame Press, 2020.
• Gienapp, William E. The Origins of the Republican Party, 1852-1856. Oxford University Press, 1987.
• Freehling, William W. The Road to Disunion. Oxford University Press, 1990.
• Stampp, David H. The Era of Reconstruction. Macmillan, 1965.
• Fogel, Robert W. Without Consent or Contract: The Rise and Fall of American Slavery. W.W. Norton & Company, 1989.
• Benjamin Quarles. The Negro in the Civil War. Alfred A. Knopf, 1953.
• Nat Turner and the Slave Revolt of 1831. African American History Journal. Vol. 10, No. 2, 2015.
• Wilentz, Sean. The Rise of American Democracy: Jefferson to Lincoln. W.W. Norton & Company, 2005.