Discussion
1) Describe 19th Century slavery in the US South with examples. Was slavery increasing in the US during the 1800s or decreasing? Explain. Finally and in your opinion, what is the main reason Southern States refused to emancipate slaves before the Civil War? See all of Chapter 11. You may also want to examine 12.3 for the abolition movement. For the opinion part of the question, please think about the question in historical terms. Simple answers such as greed or racism are not adequate without proper explanation.
2) Discuss and explain Reconstruction in the US following the Civil War. What laws, amendments, or changes are still part of the US today? Finally and your opinion, how effective was Reconstruction? Did the US government rebuild and reconstruct the United States? See all of Chapter 16 for this question. There is a lot of information here, so you do not need to explain the history of Reconstruction in great detail (make sure to hit the big points though!). Take your time with the legacy of Reconstruction. Be detailed there.