Writing Assignment 2: Lincoln and Slavery

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Directions: Read the six primary documents listed below. In a 5 page paper, discuss the issues raised
by the questions following, and write your paper in accordance with the guidelines provided.
US Constitution, Article I, Sections 8 & 9: Powers of Congress

http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/art1.asp#1sec8

US Constitution, Article II: Office of the President

http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/art2.asp

The Lincoln-Douglas Debates: The “House Divided” Speech, June 1858

http://www.nationalcenter.org/HouseDivided.html

Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address, March 1861

http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/P/al16/speeches/lincoln1.htm

Final Draft, Emancipation Proclamation, January 1863

http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/emancipa.asp

Writing Assignment 2: Lincoln and Slavery

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Letter to Albert G. Hodges, editor of the Frankfort, KY Commonwealth, April 1864
http://hd.housedivided.dickinson.edu/node/36472 (Click on “Transcription” tab)
Address the following issues in your paper:
1. What were the ideas that Lincoln had about slavery? Did Lincoln have a firm stance on slavery or
did his ideas change over time? Why do you think this is the case?
2. Was there anything that, politically speaking, was more important to Lincoln than the issue of
slavery? What legal questions did the issue of slavery raise in antebellum America?
3. What was the ultimate goal of the Emancipation Proclamation? What effect(s) did Lincoln hope
it would have on the war? What were the immediate effects of the Emancipation Proclamation?

Writing Assignment 2: Lincoln and Slavery

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What were the long term effects?
4. Do you think that the office of the President was granted the power by the Constitution to take the
actions that President Lincoln took? How did Lincoln explain and justify his decision regarding
slavery? Do you think that he was justified in his actions? Why or why not?
Your paper should be presented in the following format:
Provide a cover sheet for your paper. Address the issues presented above in five full pages (excluding
cover and reference pages). Use formal language and proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Provide an introduction and a conclusion to your paper.
Include a reference or works cited page for the paper and be sure to provide properly formatted
bibliographies for the required readings. (Visit http://owl.english.purdue.edu/ for MLA and APA
guides.)

Writing Assignment 2: Lincoln and Slavery

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Students are welcome to access additional outside sources, but these must be included on the
reference page.
Students must cite sources within the text: both direct and indirect quotes must be followed by an in-text
citation. Omitting in-text citations or citing sources incorrectly can be considered plagiarism.
Students may use either MLA or APA formats, but the chosen format must be used correctly and
consistently. Use standard font and type (Times New Roman or Calibri, 12-point), double-spacing, and
one-inch margins. The required cover and reference sheets do not count towards content pages.
Plagiarism, whether intentional or unintentional, will not be tolerated.