Whose America?
- POINTS 10
- Instructions
Diverse populations existed in the colonies and in the new nation; however, the tensions among these different groups reached new heights in the pre-Civil War period. Representatives of these different groups actively contested the shape the nation would take.
Write a 1,050- to 1,400-word paper in which you analyze these conflicting public rhetorics. When analyzing, consider the role of ethos, pathos, and logos. In particular, examine how writers representative of women, Native Americans, and African Americans interpret America’s promise of freedom and equality for all people.
Answer the following questions in your paper:
- How do the writers use the rhetoric of the founding fathers?
- How do they change this rhetoric?
- What new techniques and themes do they introduce?
- What were the roles of plays, essays, and fiction in the literature of the pre-Civil War period?
Provide at least four examples in your paper, including the following:
- One representing the growing women’s movement.
- One representing Native Americans.
- One representing or speaking for African Americans, such as a slave narrative or an abolitionist memoir.
- One representing regional differences (e.g. north and south, urban and rural, and so on).
Include at least three academic resources in your response.
Format your paper consistent with MLA guidelines (Note: Students who are not enrolled in the BA in English program may use APA formatting).
