Southern states believed the election of Lincoln meant the end of slavery and chose to break from the Union.

The purpose of this exercise will be to utilize critical and analytical writing in order to discuss the ways in which historical debates surround themes covered in class. Assigned primary source readings will provide the foundation for these essays. Roughly half of the assignment will require you to summarize both assigned primary source readings. The remainder of the assignment will be to address the question posed by the prompt and choose a side. Papers are double spaced, have one inch margins, use a twelve font Time New Roman, and contain a title. Use of the first person voice is prohibited. Be sure to state your thesis (your response to the prompt) in your introduction, use specific examples from both primary sources in your summary with sentences like “According to the source…,” and restate your thesis in your conclusion. Rough drafts are welcome. Late papers will not be accepted.Southern states believed the election of Lincoln meant the end of slavery and chose to break from the Union. Read the primary source readings posted below, summarize them both, and tell whether or not you believe Lincoln intended to abolish slavery when he was elected in 1860. Be sure to base your opinion on information from both primary source readings.