Write an essay that addresses the following prompt: Evaluate the Southern economy’s reliance on agricultural production from 1815 to 1861 within the context of industrialization and the Market Revolution.
Tips:
- Avoid comparing or contrasting the North and the South. The above prompt asks you to evaluate the Southern economy within the context of industrialization and the Market
- Revolution, but your emphasis should be on the South.
- Your thesis should be a one-sentence response (stated strongly) to the prompt that includes a central argument and subordinate points that directly support your argument.
- Include specific examples and reference sources throughout your paper.
- Explain how your evidence supports your thesis.
Sources:
- Primary Source Group A – Southern Slavery and Agriculture
- Nat Turner explains the Southampton rebellion, 1831
- Harriet Jacobs on rape and slavery, 1860
- Solomon Northup describes a slave market, 1841
- George Fitzhugh argues that slavery is better than liberty and equality, 1854
- Mary Polk Branch remembers plantation life, 1912
- William Wells Brown, “Clotel; or, The President’s Daughter: A Narrative of Slave Life in the United States,” 1853
- Painting of enslaved persons for sale, 1861
- Proslavery cartoon, 1850
- A broadside advertising an auction of forty-four enslaved people in Charleston, South Carolina, 1859-1860
- A petition by Eli Whitney to the US Congress requesting renewal of his cotton gin patent, 1812
- A map showing the distribution of the population of enslaved people in the United States, 1861
- Primary Source Group B – The Market Revolution and Industry
- James Madison asks Congress to support internal improvements, 1815
- A traveler describes life along the Erie Canal, 1829
- Blacksmith apprentice contract, 1836
- Harriet H. Robinson remembers a mill workers’ strike, 1836
- Statistics of Lowell Manufacturers, 1845
- Investigation of Labor Conditions, 1845
- Rebecca Burlend recalls her emigration from England to Illinois, 1848
- Hamilton Company Factory Rules, 1848
General Instructions
Write a minimum of 1,000 words addressing the prompt and supporting your thesis. Your essay should follow these guidelines:
- Thesis-Driven Essay: Establish a clear argument supported by specific examples.
- Length Requirements: The essay should be between 1,000 and 1,200 words.
- 5-Paragraph Structure:
- Introduction: Start with relevant background information, lead into your thesis statement that clearly answers the prompt and outline your argument.
- Support Paragraphs: Include at least three supporting paragraphs, each starting with a topic sentence aligned with your thesis. Ensure each paragraph ties back to your main argument.
- Conclusion: Restate your thesis, summarize key points, and reflect on the significance of your argument in light of the prompt.
- Evidence and Examples: Each supporting paragraph should include specific examples, integrating sources as needed.
- Focus Period: Center your discussion on the years 1815 to 1861.
Citations and Style
- You must use the MLA citation style to cite sources. Guidelines for MLA can be found using the Purdue Owl, or you can reference the Citation Help PDF from the Start Here Module of the course.
- Use only the textbook, primary sources, and assigned course materials. Avoid any internet sources.
- Incorporate at least four primary sources.
- Include a Works Cited page as the final page of your essay. This page does not contribute to the minimum word count.
- Ensure all quotes, paraphrased sections, and specific ideas from sources include in-text citations.
Submission and Format Criteria
- Submit your essay to the course site submission folder for credit.
- Be mindful of originality; submissions with Turnitin scores over 20% may face penalties for lack of original analysis.
- Essays shorter than 1,000 words risk penalties.
- Proofread before you submit.
- Submit your essay with double-spaced text in 12-point font with 1-inch margins.
- Acceptable document formats include PDF, DOC, and DOCX only.
Due on Jun 29, 2025 11:59 PM