1 What role does social Darwinism have on wealthy industrialists?
2.What are some of the economic problems that social Darwinism brings?
Monday, November 21, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
What Did the KKK Really Want? CDL Lead Questions
1. Were the KKK's actions based more off of political/racial supremacy or their own sense of "justice"?
2. Do you think that African-Americans at this time were more or less afraid of whites than before the Civil War?
2. Do you think that African-Americans at this time were more or less afraid of whites than before the Civil War?
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Letter to An English Abolitionist, John Henry Hammond 1845
1. What is the author arguing?
The author, John Henry Hammond, is arguing that slavery is not a sin, but completely approved by the bible and “It is impossible, therefore, to suppose that slavery is contrary to the will of God.”. The author also claims that it is inappropriate and wrong to “arouse the world against us by the most shocking charges of tyranny and cruelty” for “…our slaveholders are kind masters, as men usually are to kind husbands, parents and friends…” . He states that “ Slavery is truly the “cornerstone” and foundation of every well-designed and durable “republican edifice.” meaning that he truly believes slavery makes a strong government and without slavery, the government will fall apart.
2. How does the author appeal to logos (logic), pathos (emotional quality), and ethos (the writer’s perceived character) with their argument?
Ethos: Hammond was a politician therefore, his job was to serve the people. When he says “But the question is whether free or slave labor is cheapest to us in this country, at this time, situated as we are.” it shows that he feels that if slavery was abolished, then the people would have no other form of labor to use that is as efficient as slavery. And being the politician that he is he felt that “ Slavery is truly the “cornerstone” and foundation of every well-designed and durable “republican edifice.”
Pathos: The author used pathos when he says: “Now in Great Britain, the poor and laboring classes of your own race and color, not only your fellow-beings, but your fellow citizens, are more miserable and degraded, morally and physically, than our slaves…”. When he says this, the audience is moved by the description of some of Britain’s people’s lives compared to slave life in America, making others feel more sorry about the people of their own race and color and feeling less sympathetic for the slaves.
Logos: “…. that the precise word “slave” is not to be found in the translation of the Bible.” is an example of how Hammond uses logos in his writing. He claims that, logically speaking, the Bible didn’t actually have the word “slave” in it, but the word “bondsmen” and that the abolitionist’s argument saying that slavery is condemned by the bible is invalid since it didn’t specifically say “slave”.
3. What is the historical significance/relevance of this document?
If I were as egotistical and ignorant as Hammond, the author’s argument would be very convincing to me since he did make a lot of strong points. As for the people of that time, the argument would have been very convincing because he used the bible in his letter, for example when the author wrote “Let us open up these Holy Scriptures…. You cannot deny that God especially authorized his chosen people to purchase “bondmen forever” from the heathen….Nor can you deny that a “BONDMAN FOREVER” is a “SLAVE”….that the precise word “slave” is not to be found in the translation of the Bible.” and “….their words not God’s meaning…” Since many of the people during that time were strictly biblical, his letter would have appealed to many people of the audience. He also states in his letter that slaves in America were living a better life than those in Britain. Though this was very biased, it would probably make a lot of people feel as if the slaves weren’t as helpless or mistreated as they thought.
The historical significance of this document is that if this document, or any other document similar to this one wasn’t created, then slavery would have been abolished a lot sooner and there wouldn’t really be a civil war if none of the slaveholders felt so strongly about slavery and didn’t defend it.
4. Do you find the author’s argument convincing? Why or why not?
The author, John Henry Hammond, is arguing that slavery is not a sin, but completely approved by the bible and “It is impossible, therefore, to suppose that slavery is contrary to the will of God.”. The author also claims that it is inappropriate and wrong to “arouse the world against us by the most shocking charges of tyranny and cruelty” for “…our slaveholders are kind masters, as men usually are to kind husbands, parents and friends…” . He states that “ Slavery is truly the “cornerstone” and foundation of every well-designed and durable “republican edifice.” meaning that he truly believes slavery makes a strong government and without slavery, the government will fall apart.
2. How does the author appeal to logos (logic), pathos (emotional quality), and ethos (the writer’s perceived character) with their argument?
Ethos: Hammond was a politician therefore, his job was to serve the people. When he says “But the question is whether free or slave labor is cheapest to us in this country, at this time, situated as we are.” it shows that he feels that if slavery was abolished, then the people would have no other form of labor to use that is as efficient as slavery. And being the politician that he is he felt that “ Slavery is truly the “cornerstone” and foundation of every well-designed and durable “republican edifice.”
Pathos: The author used pathos when he says: “Now in Great Britain, the poor and laboring classes of your own race and color, not only your fellow-beings, but your fellow citizens, are more miserable and degraded, morally and physically, than our slaves…”. When he says this, the audience is moved by the description of some of Britain’s people’s lives compared to slave life in America, making others feel more sorry about the people of their own race and color and feeling less sympathetic for the slaves.
Logos: “…. that the precise word “slave” is not to be found in the translation of the Bible.” is an example of how Hammond uses logos in his writing. He claims that, logically speaking, the Bible didn’t actually have the word “slave” in it, but the word “bondsmen” and that the abolitionist’s argument saying that slavery is condemned by the bible is invalid since it didn’t specifically say “slave”.
3. What is the historical significance/relevance of this document?
If I were as egotistical and ignorant as Hammond, the author’s argument would be very convincing to me since he did make a lot of strong points. As for the people of that time, the argument would have been very convincing because he used the bible in his letter, for example when the author wrote “Let us open up these Holy Scriptures…. You cannot deny that God especially authorized his chosen people to purchase “bondmen forever” from the heathen….Nor can you deny that a “BONDMAN FOREVER” is a “SLAVE”….that the precise word “slave” is not to be found in the translation of the Bible.” and “….their words not God’s meaning…” Since many of the people during that time were strictly biblical, his letter would have appealed to many people of the audience. He also states in his letter that slaves in America were living a better life than those in Britain. Though this was very biased, it would probably make a lot of people feel as if the slaves weren’t as helpless or mistreated as they thought.
The historical significance of this document is that if this document, or any other document similar to this one wasn’t created, then slavery would have been abolished a lot sooner and there wouldn’t really be a civil war if none of the slaveholders felt so strongly about slavery and didn’t defend it.
4. Do you find the author’s argument convincing? Why or why not?
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Declaration of Sentiments, American Anti-Slavery Society, 1833 TA
1. What is the author arguing?
In the 1833 Declaration of Sentiments, the American Anti-Slavery Society is arguing that slavery is a sin and a horrible crime. The cruel slave owners torture the people they enslave: they abuse them, starve them and take these people away from their families while the hopeless slave cannot do anything about it for they have no legal protection whatsoever. Slaves are treated so horribly, and simply because they were born with a different skin color than white people. Slaves are not property but they are people who make up 1/6 of Americans, and by being an American person they should be granted with the same rights as any other American person including being educated, making money and obtaining legal protection. The American Anti- Slavery Society also argues that when a slave owner frees a slave, they shouldn’t be rewarded for it because they caused the oppression and suffering of the slave in the first place and slavery in the free states (without government interference in the slave states) should be completely abolished (escapees in the free states cannot be sent back to their slave owners, etc.).
2. How does the author appeal to logos (logic), pathos (emotional quality), and ethos (the writer’s perceived character) with their argument?
Logos: Logos means the logical reasoning used in a writing. “That every American citizen, who detains a human being in involuntary bondage as his property, is, according to Scripture, (Ex, xxi, 16,) a man stealer,” and “…really enjoy no constitutional or legal protection…” show logical reasoning where the author made religious references, thus showing logos.
Pathos: Pathos is the emotional tones of the writing. The author appeals to pathos in the text when he wrote: “For the crime of having a dark complexion, they suffer the pangs of hunger, the infliction of stripes and the ignominy of servitude. They are kept in a heathenish darkness by laws expressly enacted to make their instruction a criminal offence,” because it makes the reader feel empathy for the slaves by describing their experiences in a more dramatic way
.Ethos: Ethos is the credibility of the author. Ethos is shown by the fact that the Declaration of Sentiments was written by William Lloyd Garrison - who is the author of the praised abolitionist newspaper, The Liberator, and the leader of the American Anti-Slavery Society, which proves that this declaration is legitimate and credible because the author is a well-known abolitionist who knows what he’s talking about.
3. What is the historical significance/relevance of this document?The Declaration of Sentiments is one of the many anti-slavery movements which contributed a big part in the abolition of slavery. It broadcasted to many slave owners in America that slavery was against the bible and it was wrong in many ways. This moved many slave owners and more slaves were freed. Nowadays, slavery is 100% illegal (although many jobs make people feel otherwise) but if the Declaration of Sentiments didn’t exist, slavery might be legal today.
4. Do you find the author’s argument convincing? Why or why not?
In the 1833 Declaration of Sentiments, the American Anti-Slavery Society is arguing that slavery is a sin and a horrible crime. The cruel slave owners torture the people they enslave: they abuse them, starve them and take these people away from their families while the hopeless slave cannot do anything about it for they have no legal protection whatsoever. Slaves are treated so horribly, and simply because they were born with a different skin color than white people. Slaves are not property but they are people who make up 1/6 of Americans, and by being an American person they should be granted with the same rights as any other American person including being educated, making money and obtaining legal protection. The American Anti- Slavery Society also argues that when a slave owner frees a slave, they shouldn’t be rewarded for it because they caused the oppression and suffering of the slave in the first place and slavery in the free states (without government interference in the slave states) should be completely abolished (escapees in the free states cannot be sent back to their slave owners, etc.).
2. How does the author appeal to logos (logic), pathos (emotional quality), and ethos (the writer’s perceived character) with their argument?
Logos: Logos means the logical reasoning used in a writing. “That every American citizen, who detains a human being in involuntary bondage as his property, is, according to Scripture, (Ex, xxi, 16,) a man stealer,” and “…really enjoy no constitutional or legal protection…” show logical reasoning where the author made religious references, thus showing logos.
Pathos: Pathos is the emotional tones of the writing. The author appeals to pathos in the text when he wrote: “For the crime of having a dark complexion, they suffer the pangs of hunger, the infliction of stripes and the ignominy of servitude. They are kept in a heathenish darkness by laws expressly enacted to make their instruction a criminal offence,” because it makes the reader feel empathy for the slaves by describing their experiences in a more dramatic way
.Ethos: Ethos is the credibility of the author. Ethos is shown by the fact that the Declaration of Sentiments was written by William Lloyd Garrison - who is the author of the praised abolitionist newspaper, The Liberator, and the leader of the American Anti-Slavery Society, which proves that this declaration is legitimate and credible because the author is a well-known abolitionist who knows what he’s talking about.
3. What is the historical significance/relevance of this document?The Declaration of Sentiments is one of the many anti-slavery movements which contributed a big part in the abolition of slavery. It broadcasted to many slave owners in America that slavery was against the bible and it was wrong in many ways. This moved many slave owners and more slaves were freed. Nowadays, slavery is 100% illegal (although many jobs make people feel otherwise) but if the Declaration of Sentiments didn’t exist, slavery might be legal today.
4. Do you find the author’s argument convincing? Why or why not?
The authors argument was convincing. The author didn’t provide just his opinion, but gave many detailed reasons as to why slavery should be abolished by explaining the hardships and suffering of the slaves, such as when the author states: “But those, for whose emancipation we are striving…are recognized by law, and treated by their fellow-beings, as brute beasts; are plundered daily…really enjoy no constitutional or legal protection…and are ruthlessly torn asunder-- the tender babe from the arms of its frantic mother-- the heartbroken wife from her weeping husband-- at the caprice or pleasure of irresponsible tyrants.” The author also states that by freeing the slaves, no slave or slave owner is harmed where it is written “…it is not wronging the master it is righting the slave…” and “ it would not amputate a limb or break a bone of the slaves” therefore making it very convincing to pro and anti- slavery peoples that the abolition of slavery would be a very good thing to do. “…the guilt of its oppression is unequalled by any other on the face of the earth; and, therefore, that is bound to repent instantly, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free…Therefore we believe and affirm-- that there is no difference, in principle, between the African slave trade and American slavery;” and “…man cannot hold property in man…because slavery is a crime…” speaks very ethically which make it more convincing to the audience that slavery should be abolished.
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