Unit VII Scholarly ActivityAssignment Content
- Causes of the Civil War
The goal of this assignment is to analyze an event, in relation to the Antebellum period of the United States, that you feel directly led to the Civil War of the 1860s. This will help you develop a deeper understanding of the concepts discussed throughout our course and encourage critical thinking.
You will create an essay that is at least three pages in length, not counting the title and reference pages. Use a minimum of three peer-reviewed or academic resources, two of which must come from the CSU Online Library.
For more than 160 years, historians have painstakingly searched for the one factor that caused the American Civil War; the event that caused disunion to turn to war. The search is so intense that the American Civil War is one of the most researched events in the history of the United States. Throughout Unit VII, we have learned about various events and variables that could be identified as a factor that has set the United States on a path toward the American Civil War.
Select one event from the list below:
The Compromise of 1850
- The Kansas-Nebraska Act
- Presidential Election of 1856
- Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)
- The Lincoln-Douglas Debates
- John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry
- Presidential Election of 1860
- Provide insightful and a thorough analysis of the event.
- Explain why you believe this single event caused such intense disunion within the United States that the country was placed on a trajectory toward the American Civil War.
- Discuss how social, political, and economic dynamics may have played a role in the event.
- Clearly describe how the event served as a catalyst for the American Civil War.
- Do not begin to work on the Unit VII Assignment until you have read (in full) the Unit VII Study Guide and read/viewed the assigned Required Unit Resources.
- After you have read/reviewed the Unit VII material, carefully review the Unit VII rubric so that you are aware of how your work will be evaluated.
- Present insightful and thorough analysis with strong arguments and evidence; dive into the details to help present strong content. Remember to incorporate the five Ws of research into your writing: who, what, where, when, and why.
- Take the time to review the CSU Online Library, Writing Center, and APA resources provided below. Reach out to the CSU librarians if you have questions about the library or locating resources. Contact the Writing Center if you would like help mastering APA Style, organization, or other writing skills.
- America: History and Life
- JSTOR
- Academic Search Ultimate
- If you have questions about the assignment, contact your course instructor or professor.
