Causes of the Civil War Was slavery the only cause of the Civil War? There are those that would have us believe that it was the only cause. Many historians say that slavery was the main issue of the Civil War. Although some historians think the war was the result of political screw-ups and that the issue of slavery did not cause the war. Yet again others claim that there were other more serious causes that lay below the surface. ...
What does it mean to be an American? What does it mean to be an American slave? These two questions are ideal thematic rhetorical statements that both Crevecoeur and Douglass write about in various ways. Crevecoeur was not born in the United States, but once he arrived here, he was a free man who made a life for him and his family. On the other hand, Frederick Douglass was born in the United States, but was confined to be a lowly life form other than a human; seen only as an animal used for work, he experienced life from a different perspective. ...
America has always prided itself on being the land of the free. Our national Constitution and Bill of Rights have ensured that the people of America maintain their basic rights, and more. Nevertheless, many of the rights guaranteed in these historic documents are often the subject of heated debate. The right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures under the Fourth Amendment, the Fifth Amendment's guarantee against self-incrimination, the First Amendment's protection of speech and petitioning activity, all of these issues has been subject to contentious arguments in cour...
Introduction When I first sat down and researched into American exceptionalism I discovered an idea that was complex in not just its definition but also its understanding. I quickly learned I was researching something that spanned political, historical and religious backgrounds and tapped into the heart of the American attitude most recently seen in Obama's election victory speech of "yes we can".1 Despite this, the president recently appeared to be hesitant to proclaim views of support for exceptionalism. Asked by a reporter in Strasbourg, France, whether he subscribed, as his...
