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Causes of the Civil War

Essay Structure1. Introduction: Background of North and South, Definition of major topic,

Thesis

(At least 5 sentences)

2. First Body Paragraph: Sub-topic to support your thesis

(At least 8 sentences)

3. Second Body Paragraph: Sub-topic to support your thesis(At least 8 sentences)

4. Third Body Paragraph: Sub-topic to support your thesis

(At least 8 sentences)

5. Conclusion: Reworded Thesis, wrapping up your argument

(At least 5 sentences)

• A short statement, usually one sentence, that summarizes the main point or claim of an essay, research paper, etc., and is…– Developed– Supported– Explained

By means of examples and evidence.

Thesis Statements

The Civil war was caused by slavery as shown through the 3/5

compromise, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and the Dred Scott Decision.

The Civil war was caused by slavery when events such as the 3/5 compromise, Uncle Tom’s Cabin and the Dred Scott Decision divided the nation into two with the South favoring slavery, and the North against it.

The Civil war began after the North and South showed many differing opinions about the issue of slavery when the 3/5 compromise, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and the Dred Scott Decision opened the door for debates about the future of the country.

Thesis Statements- Examples

Introduction Paragraph (1st Paragraph): Beginning of the introduction paragraph:

o It must have a ‘hook’ the reader ino A ‘hook’ or an ‘attention grabber’ can be an analogy, a fact/statistic, quote, or a rhetorical

question.o Your beginning:

______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Introducing your topic:o After the hook statement, you need to connect it to the rest of your intro.o Begin introducing your topic, with statements that relate to the North and the Southo Include some kind of explanation of your major topic (Slavery, Popular Sovereignty,

Sectionalism) o Continuing your intro: ________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thesis:o A thesis must answer the essay question/prompt.

Remember the essay question for this essay is: What was the true cause of the American Civil War? Why? (Slavery, Popular Sovereignty/States’ Rights, or Sectionalism?)

o It must explain in one statement, your entire argument and set up your body paragraphs.o It must go at the end of your Introduction.o Your Thesis: ________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Body Paragraph #1 Topic Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Explanation of the event: _________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

How does this prove that ____________________________________ caused the American Civil War? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

How are you going to utilize statistics or quotes to support your argument? _________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Conclusion (5th Paragraph): Beginning of the conclusion paragraph must start with a rephrased thesis:

o It must restate the thesis in different wordso New, reworded thesis: __________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

o Remember, use the reworded thesis at the beginning of your conclusion Summarizing your topic:

o After the restated thesis you need to wrap up your thoughtso Summarize the different body paragraphs in different words

Body Paragraph #1: ________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________

Body Paragraph #2: ________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________

Body Paragraph #3: ________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________

Include a "closer" statement that clearly and effectively brings the essay to an end:o ____________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Slavery

Popular Sovereignty

Sectionalism

2. 3/5 Compromise3. Popular Sovereignty4. Missouri Compromise6. Mexican War 8. Abolitionists9. Nat Turner 11. Compromise of 185012. Uncle Tom’s Cabin13. Kansas-Nebraska Act16. Dred Scott Case17. John Brown’s Raid18. Election of 1860

1. Slavery5. Nullification Crisis

11. Compromise of 185013. Kansas- Nebraska Act

14. Lincoln/Douglas Debates15. Bleeding Kansas/Border War

16. Dred Scott Case

1. Slavery3. Popular Sovereignty

2. 3/5 Compromise4. Missouri Compromise

6. Mexican War12. Uncle Tom’s Cabin

16. Dred Scott Case17. John Brown’s RaidThe Election of 1860

7. Regional Economic Differences

Listing of

topics

Credits

• Pictures– http://historicaldigression.com/2012/02/23/gods-and-generals-a-lament/– http://daily-download.com/based-true-story-case-revisionist-non-fiction/– http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0144117/quotes

• YouTube videos