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Chronological Reasoning and Causation

Civic Literacy Essay: Fugitive Slave Acts

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  1. Load 1793 Fugitive Slave Act in Main Document Viewer
  2. Load 1793 Fugitive Slave Act in Main Document Viewer
  3. Load Proof copy of the first printing of The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 in Main Document Viewer
  4. Load Proof copy of the first printing of The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 in Main Document Viewer
  5. Load Frederick Douglass' paper (Rochester, N.Y.), July 9, 1852 in Main Document Viewer
  6. Load Frederick Douglass' paper (Rochester, N.Y.), July 9, 1852 in Main Document Viewer
  7. Load Servility of the Northern States in arresting and returning fugitive Slaves in Main Document Viewer
  8. Load Excerpt, Life of Reverend Thomas James, Rochester, NY, 1887 in Main Document Viewer
  9. Load Excerpt, Life of Reverend Thomas James, Rochester, NY, 1887 in Main Document Viewer

Suggested Teaching Instructions

Created by Albert Cook, High School Teacher from New Paltz

This Civic Literacy Essay Question is based on the accompanying documents. The question is designed to test your ability to work with historical documents. Some of these documents have been edited for the purpose of this question. As you analyze the documents, take into account the source of each document and any point of view that may be presented in the document. Keep in mind that the language and images used in a document may reflect the historical context of the time in which it was created.

Historical Context:
Throughout United States history, many constitutional and civic issues have been debated by Americans. These debates have resulted in efforts by individuals, groups, and governments to address these issues. These efforts have achieved varying degrees of success. One of these constitutional and civic issues is the enforcement of Fugitive Slave Acts in the United States.

Task:
Read and analyze the documents. Using information from the documents and your knowledge of United States history, answer the questions that follow each document in Part A. Your answers to the questions will help you write the Part B essay in which you will be asked to:​​​​​​​

• Describe the historical circumstances surrounding this constitutional or civic issue       

• Explain efforts by individuals, groups, and/or governments to address this constitutional or civic issue

• Discuss the extent to which the efforts were successful​​​​​​​

In developing your answers, be sure to keep these general definitions in mind:

(a) describe means “to illustrate something in words or tell about it”

(b) explain means “to make plain or understandable; to give reasons for or causes of; to show the logical development or relationships of”

(c) discuss means “to make observations about something using facts, reasoning, and argument; to present in some detail”

To download a pdf of this lesson, click here. 
https://considerthesource.s3.amazonaws.com/2616/9984/0227/CivicLiteracy_Fugitive_Slave_Act.pdf

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