Following 1750, while many discuss the various factors that lead to the Civil War, including economic and moral differences, secessionism, territorial expansion, states’ rights and the election of Abraham Lincoln, ultimately, race and slavery was the central and most essential cause. It is evident that states’ rights and secessionism played a vital part in the Civil War, but if it were not for the role that race had in the Missouri Compromise and the abolitionist movement, the conflict would have never come to a head, causing the Civil War. Proceeding 1750, the abolitionist movement and those participating became more influential and aggressive, putting pressure on the institution of slavery and those in support of it, while the Missouri Compromise
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Slave narratives were often very emotional and sometimes disturbing, and for many slaves, former slaves and abolitionists, slave narratives were often the call to action they needed. In Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas, Frederick Douglass describes the brutal punishments he and other slaves was forced to endure from their master, Mr. Covey, even going as far as comparing his frequent scars to the size of his fingers and recalling the times where he was almost beat lifeless. “The blood was yet oozing from the wound on my head. For a time I thought I should bleed to death; and think now that I should have done so, but that the blood so matted my hair as to stop the wound” (Douglass 43) Douglass says, as he recalls one of the multiple near death experiences he had because of the abuse of his master. When sharing his personal experience of with slavery, Douglass is giving abolitionists firsthand accounts of what many slaves are forced to live through and for slaves, Douglass is relating to them by sharing experiences and emotions that are similar to the ones they once went through and felt. Not only does Douglass describes the abuse, but he further describes how the abuse and treatment he went through had an effect on his …show more content…
Mr. Covey succeeded in breaking me. I was broken in body, soul, and spirit. My natural elasticity was crushed, my intellect languished, the disposition to read departed, the cheerful spark that lingered about my eye died; the dark night of slavery closed in upon me; and behold a man transformed into a brute! (Douglass 40)
. Douglass’s former happiness and willingness to learn is no longer there, as slavery has turned him into an animal. By Douglass describing this, he is showing people how his Mr. Covey was able to demoralize and discourage him, without the use of physical violence. For some people, Douglass’s narrative cause them to feel pity and sympathy, but for many, it lit the fire and was the call to action that they needed to encourage or join the Civil War, because Douglass’s narrative was not solely about him, but all African Americans, as many lived through or were still living through these same
Slave narratives were often very emotional and sometimes disturbing, and for many slaves, former slaves and abolitionists, slave narratives were often the call to action they needed. In Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas, Frederick Douglass describes the brutal punishments he and other slaves was forced to endure from their master, Mr. Covey, even going as far as comparing his frequent scars to the size of his fingers and recalling the times where he was almost beat lifeless. “The blood was yet oozing from the wound on my head. For a time I thought I should bleed to death; and think now that I should have done so, but that the blood so matted my hair as to stop the wound” (Douglass 43) Douglass says, as he recalls one of the multiple near death experiences he had because of the abuse of his master. When sharing his personal experience of with slavery, Douglass is giving abolitionists firsthand accounts of what many slaves are forced to live through and for slaves, Douglass is relating to them by sharing experiences and emotions that are similar to the ones they once went through and felt. Not only does Douglass describes the abuse, but he further describes how the abuse and treatment he went through had an effect on his …show more content…
Mr. Covey succeeded in breaking me. I was broken in body, soul, and spirit. My natural elasticity was crushed, my intellect languished, the disposition to read departed, the cheerful spark that lingered about my eye died; the dark night of slavery closed in upon me; and behold a man transformed into a brute! (Douglass 40)
. Douglass’s former happiness and willingness to learn is no longer there, as slavery has turned him into an animal. By Douglass describing this, he is showing people how his Mr. Covey was able to demoralize and discourage him, without the use of physical violence. For some people, Douglass’s narrative cause them to feel pity and sympathy, but for many, it lit the fire and was the call to action that they needed to encourage or join the Civil War, because Douglass’s narrative was not solely about him, but all African Americans, as many lived through or were still living through these same