I have lived all my life without suffering any known inconvenience from American Slavery. I never saw it; I never heard the whip; I never felt the check on my free speech and action, until, the other day, when Mr. Webster, by his personal influence, brought the Fugitive Slave Law on the country. I saw Mr. Webster, for though the Bill was not his, it is yet notorious that he was the life and soul of it, that he gave it all her had; it cost him his life, and under the shadow of his great name inferior men sheltered themselves, threw their ballots for it and made the law. I say inferior men… men without self respect, without character, and it was strange to see that office, age, fame, talent, even a repute for honesty, all count for nothing. They had no opinions, they had no memory for what they had been saying like the Lord’s Prayer all their lifetime; they were only looking to what their great Captain did; if he jumped, they jumped, if he stood on his head, they did.

QUESTION

Find the historical context, intended audience, point of view, and purpose for each documents.

Document Analysis: Period 5

I have lived all my life without suffering any known inconvenience from American Slavery. I never saw it; I never heard the whip; I never felt the check on my free speech and action, until, the other day, when Mr. Webster, by his personal influence, brought the Fugitive Slave Law on the country. I saw Mr. Webster, for though the Bill was not his, it is yet notorious that he was the life and soul of it, that he gave it all her had; it cost him his life, and under the shadow of his great name inferior men sheltered themselves, threw their ballots for it and made the law. I say inferior men… men without self respect, without character, and it was strange to see that office, age, fame, talent, even a repute for honesty, all count for nothing. They had no opinions, they had no memory for what they had been saying like the Lord’s Prayer all their lifetime; they were only looking to what their great Captain did; if he jumped, they jumped, if he stood on his head, they did.
Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1854

Historical Context: Transcendentalist movement, slavery, abolitionist

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Purpose:

The question is simply this; Can a negro, whose ancestors were imported into this country, and sold as slaves, become a member of the political community formed and brought into existence by the Constitution of the United States, and as such become entitled to all the rights, and privileges, and immunities, guarantied by that instrucment to the citizen? One of which rights is the privilege of suing in a court of the United States in the cases specified in the Constitution.

It will be observed, that the plea applies to that class of persons only whose ancestors were negroes of the African race, and imported into this country, and sold and held as slaves. The only matter in issue before the court, therefore, is, whether the descendants of such slaves, when they shall be emancipated, or who are born of parents who had become free before their birth, are citizens of a state, in the sense in which the word citizen is used in the Constitution of the United States.
Decision of the Supreme Court: Dred Scott v. Sandford, 1857
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We, the People of the State of South Carolina, in Convention assembled, do declare and ordain, and it is hereby declared and ordained, that the Ordinance adopted by us in Convention, on the Twenty-third of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight, whereby the Constitution of the United States was ratified, and also all other Acts and parts of Acts of the General Assembly of the State ratifying amendments of the said Constitution, are hereby repealed, and the Union now subsisting between South Carolina and other States, under the name of the United States of America, is hereby dissolved.

South Carolina’s Ordinance of Secession and Declaration of Independence, 1860

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The state of things which exists in many sections of our country is alarming. Scarcely a night passes but some outrage is perpetrated against the welfare of some community. Houses are burned, persons are whipped, and in some instances killed, by parties unknown, and for causes which no one can decipher. These things are not right; they are not prudent. They are grave crimes against God and the best interest of the Country.

By common consent, the house-burning is charged upon the colored race, and the whipping and killing upon the so-called Ku-Klux. This is not certainly known to be the case, but the probability is that the supposition with regard to the perpetrators of these deeds is correct. One thing must be evident to every observing man: there is concert of action both in the house-burning and in the whipping and killing.
Lee Guidon, Klan Terrorism in South Carolina, 1872

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ANSWER

Analysis of Historical Documents: Understanding Context, Audience, Point of View, and Purpose

Introduction

In the study of history, analyzing primary source documents provides valuable insights into the past. This essay aims to examine three historical documents from different periods, namely Ralph Waldo Emerson’s writings from 1854, the Supreme Court decision in the case of Dred Scott v. Sandford in 1857, and South Carolina’s Ordinance of Secession and Declaration of Independence in 1860 (Beyond States on JSTOR, n.d.). By analyzing the historical context, intended audience, point of view, and purpose of each document, we can gain a deeper understanding of the ideas and events that shaped these pivotal moments in history.

Document 1: Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1854

Historical Context

Emerson’s writings emerged during the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century, which emphasized individualism and nonconformity. The document coincides with the abolitionist movement and the issue of American Slavery, both of which were pressing social and political concerns at the time.

Intended Audience

The intended audience of Emerson’s writings is likely the general public, particularly those sympathetic to the abolitionist cause and interested in social and political issues. His words aimed to sway public opinion and inspire action.

Point of View

Emerson’s point of view can be characterized as that of a prominent Transcendentalist writer and philosopher. He condemns American Slavery and criticizes the Fugitive Slave Law, attributing its passage to influential figures like Mr. Webster. Emerson portrays them as lacking moral character and independent thinking, highlighting their role in suppressing freedom of speech and action.

Purpose

Emerson’s purpose in this document is to denounce the Fugitive Slave Law and the politicians involved in its enactment. By exposing what he perceives as hypocrisy and moral deficiencies, he seeks to galvanize support for the abolitionist cause. His writing aims to encourage individuals to question authority and stand against injustice.

Document 2: Decision of the Supreme Court: Dred Scott v. Sandford, 1857

Historical Context

The Supreme Court decision in the Dred Scott case occurred amidst intense debate over the expansion of slavery in the United States. It contributed to the growing tensions between the North and the South, ultimately leading to the American Civil War.

Intended Audience

The intended audience for the Supreme Court decision was the legal community, politicians, and the general public. Its impact extended beyond the immediate parties involved in the case, as it had significant implications for the rights of enslaved individuals and the interpretation of the Constitution.

Point of View

The document reflects the Supreme Court’s point of view, as it was the highest judicial body responsible for interpreting the law. The decision concluded that African Americans, regardless of their status as free or enslaved, could not be citizens of the United States and therefore did not have the same rights and protections afforded to citizens (Dred Scott V. Sandford (1857), 2022).

Purpose

The purpose of the Supreme Court decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford was to settle the question of whether enslaved individuals or their descendants could be considered citizens under the United States Constitution. The decision reinforced the institution of slavery and further polarized the nation along sectional lines, contributing to the impending conflict between the North and the South.

Document 3: South Carolina’s Ordinance of Secession and Declaration of Independence, 1860

Historical Context

South Carolina’s Ordinance of Secession and Declaration of Independence emerged during a critical period leading up to the American Civil War. The document represented a pivotal moment when Southern states began to secede from the Union in response to growing tensions over states’ rights and the issue of slavery.

Intended Audience

The intended audience of the ordinance and declaration was the citizens of South Carolina, other Southernstates, and the federal government. The document aimed to declare South Carolina’s secession from the Union and justify its actions to both its own population and the broader national audience.

Point of View

The document reflects the point of view of South Carolina, specifically the delegates who ratified the ordinance and declaration. It represents the perspective of Southern states seeking to protect what they perceived as their rights and interests, including the preservation of slavery.

Purpose

The purpose of South Carolina’s Ordinance of Secession and Declaration of Independence was to formally declare the state’s secession from the Union and provide a legal and ideological justification for this action (South Carolina Declaration of Secession, 1860 | the American Yawp Reader, n.d.). The document sought to assert the sovereignty of South Carolina and defend the institution of slavery as a fundamental right of the Southern states.

Conclusion

Analyzing historical documents provides valuable insights into the past, allowing us to understand the context, intended audience, point of view, and purpose behind key events. The documents examined in this essay shed light on significant historical moments, including the opposition to American Slavery, the contentious Supreme Court decision on the rights of African Americans, and the secession of Southern states. By delving into these primary sources, we can better comprehend the complex issues and perspectives that shaped the course of history.

References

Beyond States on JSTOR. (n.d.). https://www.jstor.org/stable/27221589 

Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857). (2022, May 10). National Archives. https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/dred-scott-v-sandford 

South Carolina Declaration of Secession, 1860 | The American Yawp Reader. (n.d.). https://www.americanyawp.com/reader/the-sectional-crisis/south-carolina-declaration-of-secession-1860/