Ally Koscinski

Mrs. Neal

AP US History

8 May 2020

17th Century DBQ

The 17th century consisted of America as a new nation of independence. prior to the

American revolution in 1765-1783, America was held under the grip of British Parliament, who

had many unjust taxes and laws placed on citizens. When the American militia secured their

independence from the British, they were faced with an array of new problems. The nation began

to secure new land from France through the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. As the territory began

to be split up, as did the people and their views on their rights. The Missouri Compromise and

Kansas-Nebraska Act fueled the debate over slavery. As northerners tried to push slavery out of

the country, southerners began to fight back. The period of 1860-1877 fostered intolerable

feelings between the north and south despite the governments efforts to please both parties. The

regional differences ultimately caused a direct split in the country. Although the revolution and

new amendment added to the constitution was meant to terminate the debate, the following

period brought along new issues for minority groups.

The new freedom that was brought along with the American Revolution, caused each

state to take control of their own ideas for self government and how their economy was going to

be run. This caused a complete split in regions over ideas of government power and the right of
slavery. Northerners fully believed in a strong central power and fought for abolition.

Southerners believed in freedom of government and that slavery was necessary to their economy.

The attempted bank systems were created to make currency a more public, nationwide

commodity and appeal to both sides during the Civil War (Doc 2). No common ground was

found and the war waged on.

The regional differences on government and slavery, became much more intricate than

expected. Southerners weren't happy with the constitutional developments during the Kansas

Nebraska Act, which stated that the two states could decided themselves if they were going to

accept slavery or not. Southern states like South Carolina, took initiative and seceded from

America as a whole, due to feelings of limitation and restriction of power (Doc 1). The country

then became the Union and the Confederacy; the north and south. The war began at Fort Sumter

and turned into a 5 year Civil war as both sides fought for their own personal rights occupy the

constitution. The end of the war came with a victory for the north and a new addition to the

constitution, the 13th amendment.

The 13th amendment forbade all slavery and involuntary servitude throughout the United

States. All black men became freedmen, however when faced with society, were rejected.

Segregation based on color took place in the public, and African Americans had separate

theatres, restrooms, and other buildings. (Doc 4). A Jim Crow South was on the horizon and

black men began to question their rights, despite the amendment. Minority groups, like African

Americans, were still faced with terrorization as white supremacist groups appeared across the

country. The Ku Klux Klan imposed a hatred upon the black race and took violent procedures
against them (Doc 5). These social developments caused questions regarding the success of the

13th Amendment.