Primary Source Analysis Worksheet_Example (1)

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Primary Source Analysis Name: George Washington Course: HIST 1110 Topic: Race and slavery in the early republic Instructions: Choose one (1) primary source and answer all questions using this document as a template. Answers should be in complete, full paragraphs ( do not use bullet points ). Think carefully about the source and how you can fully answer each question. Full Source Citation (Chicago/Turabian Format): Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia (Richmond: 1788; 1853), 149-152, 155. What type of primary source is this? Book which includes Jefferson writings throughout his life. Who is the intended audience? Jefferson published this book to provide a historical foundation for future, educated readers to understand early Virginia and its natural history. What information do you know about the author or publication (such as, occupation, political positions, personal background or connection)? Jefferson was one of the most influential American thinkers and statesman during the American Revolution through the early republic. He strongly supported American independence from the British and favored American relations with France. Jefferson was also a wealthy, slaveowner from Virginia. During the early republic, Jefferson became the leading figure of the Republican party (later became the Democratic Party) and supported agrarian values, a weak state, expansion of democracy, and continuation of slavery. How does the source help to understand historical and contemporary information about your topic? This source helps to understand how American views toward slavery changed following the American revolution and Constitution. Thomas Jefferson and other initially supported the idea of all men being equals, but as slavery became more important to the South and sectional divides sprang up, slaveowners like Jefferson changed the narrative over slavery from a “necessary evil” to racial hierarchies which justified the continuation of slavery. This also marks the transition of the US South transforming from a “society with slaves” to a “slave society” as the institution affected every aspect of Southern life. Why is this source important? This source is important because of Jefferson’s influence in early American history, especially relating to Black Americans and slavery. Jefferson’s piece on slavery demonstrates racial ideas which would intensify throughout the nineteenth century and justify not only slavery of Africans, but also the subjugation of other racial and ethnic groups.
Write a paragraph incorporating all of the above answers. (Remember, limit direct quotations and paraphrase in your own words as much as possible.): Thomas Jefferson published his lifelong work, Notes on the State of Virginia , in 1853. The book demonstrates how Jefferson’s views changed throughout his adulthood, especially relating to race and slavery. While Jefferson and other Americans initially viewed slavery as an unfortunate, yet necessary “evil,” those views drastically changed following the American Revolution and Constitution as slavery became instilled in the early republic, especially in the South. Jefferson, in particular, demonstrates this change in view as he sought to justify the institution of enslaving Africans through biological terms. Through white supremacists language, Jefferson distinguishing enslaved Blacks as inferior from whites based on physical structure, pseudo- science reasoning for smell and skin-tone, and sexual practices.
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