Spend at least one page discussing each position (one page discussing the preslavery perspective and one page discussing the abolitionist persective). Use examples from the readings to illustrate main points., the Second Great Awakening helped to inspire

Spend at least one page discussing each position (one page discussing the preslavery perspective and one page discussing the abolitionist persective). Use examples from the readings to illustrate main points.

In the 1820s, 1830, and 1840s, the Second Great Awakening helped to inspire a reformist impulse across the nation. One of those movements centered on an effort to abolish slavery in the United States; of course, the desire to eliminate slavery did not go unchallenged. In this activity, you will examine the views of antislavery (abolitionist) and proslavery writers in the antebellum years. This essay will help you better understand a controversy that permeated American life in the years leading up to the Civil War.

Required readings:

Pro Slavery: George Fitzhgh Advocates Slavery

Disease and Peculiarities of the Negro Race

James Henry Hammond Advocates Slavery

Abolotionists:

David Walker’s Appeal

Frederick Douglas, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”

The American Anti Slavery Society: Declaration of Sentiments

Focus Questions: Consider these questions sas you read through the above sources (all of these questions need to be addressed in the essay):
Proslavery authors:
1) How do these authors justify slavery?
2) According to these authors what place do slaves have in society?
3) What derisive stereotypes of African Americans are found in these proslavery documents?

Abolitionist authors:
1) Why do they believe slavery needs to be abolished?
2) What specific criticisms do they have about American society?
3) How do these authors view African Americans (in contrast to the sterotypes offered by proslavery authors)? How do the authors view African Americans place in society?