How would you characterize the position of each historical actor? How specifically did each actor support his or her position? Ultimately, why was there an Indian Removal crisis?

Introduction  This assignment asks you to analyze primary sources, a practice that is fundamental to the craft of history. To locate the sources you'll need for this assignment, find the Week 8 Module, and then click on the Content Page called "Primary Sources for Week 8." Most likely this page can be reached easily by clicking the "Previous" button at the bottom of the page. Once you have located this page, you should see about 9 primary sources written from the years 1829-1831. Read through ALL of these sources and CHOOSE FOUR. At least one of the sources you choose must come from an individual who favored removal; at least one must come from an individual who opposed removal; and at least one must come from a Native American. Use the four sources you've picked to answer the prompt below. 

 

Prompt How would you characterize the position of each historical actor? How specifically did each actor support his or her position? Ultimately, why was there an Indian Removal crisis? 

 

Guidelines ◦ Paper must be FIVE FULL pages of double-spaced text. The

title page is not included in this amount. Do not exceed SIX pages. If you go over this amount you may lose points. 

◦ No Works Cited or Bibliography is required. The in-text citations will be sufficient (see citation style below)

◦ Submit your essay at the Turnitin.com link below as a Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx). Microsoft Office, including Microsoft Word, is installed automatically on most

PCs. If you don't have the Microsoft Office package on your computer, you can download it through your CPP email address  Download download it through your CPP email address
 . This download works for Macs and PCs. 

◦ It is the responsibility of the student to make sure that the essay is submitted successfully. Are you having trouble submitting through Turnitin.com? Check out this handout  Download this handout
 on common issues, and how to solve them. 

◦ Do not justify your margins. They should be set to "Align Left."

◦ Be sure to use standard margins, fonts, and spacing. This means 12 pt, Times New Roman font style, double-spaced text, and 1" margins on the left, right, top, and bottom. Many versions of Microsoft Word set the default margins to 1.25 inches. It is your responsibility to change them. 

◦ Include a title page with the title of your paper, your name, and word count. You do not need to repeat this information on the second page of your essay. 

◦ Include page numbers at the bottom, right-hand corner of each page. 

◦ Do not skip lines between paragraphs ◦ Do not insert subheadings. It is best to create smooth

transitions between paragraphs.  ◦ Except in unusual cases, I do not accept submissions of

assignments over email.  ◦ There are no make-ups for this assignment. 

 

Citations Many students have a difficult time with proper citation technique, so I have provided examples below. You will not need to bother with using a writing manual or looking up citation styles online. The easiest thing to do is follow these examples below.

Note that these are in-text, parenthetical citations. If you're citing a primary source, put the last name of the historical actor you're citing along with the page number. There is no comma inside the parentheses. The period goes at the very end of the sentence. 

Primary Source: In Twenty Years at Hull House, Jane Addams wrote, "Our young people feel nervously the need of putting theory into action, and respond quickly to the Settlement form of activity" (Addams 5). 

Textbook: According to U.S. History, Senator Daniel Webster's efforts at compromise "led many abolitionist sympathizers to denounce him as a traitor." (Corbett et al. 14.1). 

Lecture: Popular culture has often reinforced the stereotype that the South South was pre-modern, but academic historians have uncovered many aspects of modernity in this region (Campbell). 

 

Words of Advice  An effective introduction will directly and specifically answer all of the questions in the prompt and establish a blueprint or roadmap for the rest of the paper. See the helpful handouts below. Strong papers were interpret the texts, and not merely summarize them. 

If you would like me to read a rough draft, I would be happy to do so, but you must give me plenty of time to read it and for you to make improvements. This means you should not submit to me a rough draft on a Tuesday if the essay is due on a Thursday. Your rough draft should be in the form of an introduction and outline (I will not comment on entire essays). 

There is a difference between the Indian Removal Act of 1830 and the larger Indian Removal crisis. The act was one piece of legislation whereas the crisis was a long-term phenomenon that spanned several decades. 

Since you are practicing what historians do, most of your evidence should come from primary sources. You are technically allowed to bring in material from the textbook and lecture, but I would not advise including more than a few sentences.