Documenting United States History

300 ChapTER 12 | War and eManCipation | period Five 1844 –1877 putting it all together^301

Putting it All togEthEr

revisiting the Main Point

•   

Choose four documents above that reflect differing interpretations of federal

power. Connect each of these documents to one or more earlier arguments

about federal power from the periods between 1787 and 1848.

•   

By the end of the Civil War, Northerners and Southerners often identified

themselves as distinctly different peoples. What evidence of these different

self-definitions can you find in the documents above?

•   

Using your knowledge of the time period and the documents above, char-

acterize the ways in which white Americans identified African Americans

throughout this period. What advantages did white Americans gain by

defining African Americans in these various ways?

beginning an Argument with Sources:

The Preliminary claim

Another way of introducing an argument is to begin by discussing a primary

source. This approach contrasts with essays that begin paragraphs with main

points that are followed by supporting points.

There are four good reasons to begin an essay or a body paragraph with a

review of sources. First and foremost, the source acts as a springboard and can

provide a preliminary claim. Here you are practicing synthesis by allowing

sources to “speak” to each other. By introducing what another author says and

then entertaining other positions—sometimes supportive, sometimes compet-

ing—you show empathy, patience, and the ability to present an argument that is

fully grounded in primary documents.

Second, as you learned in Chapter 9, starting with specific examples pro-

vides an inductive approach to your overall essay. These starting points allow

you to move into a more thorough illustration of key historical thinking skills—

causation and periodization. Sources serve as portals into abstract historical

thinking skills, such as contextualization and interpretation.

Third, by beginning with a primary document—when used in the service

of historical thinking skills—you increase the credibility of your argument with

your readers.

Finally, such a move has distinct effects on your reader: you gain credibility,

illustrate a concept from the beginning, and appeal to your audience more fully,

depending on your presentation of that document.

Building AP®

writing sKills

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