Customer center

We are a boutique essay service, not a mass production custom writing factory. Let us create a perfect paper for you today!

Example research essay topic: Race Of People Group Of People - 1,170 words

NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote

... were motivated by personal opinion or by public influence. From the various discussions in class on this issue, it is safe to conclude that it is a combination of both. Whatever Lincoln's personal convictions on slavery were, as a politician his job was to serve the American people who he represented. With this in mind, one must remember the attitudes of the American people at that time. On the surface they appeared to be divided between slave holders, abolitionists, and those who opposed the spread of slavery.

In reality, the opinions of these groups were all based on the same "logic" of white racism. Racism again being the belief that one race of people is humanly superior to another. All of the people at that time were influenced by this belief as it was the status quo of that time. If this were not the case, then there would have been a fight for the equal rights of blacks and not just the abolition or limit of slavery. Lincoln himself, claimed many times that he was not an abolitionist, but wanted to limit slavery to the south where it already existed. This statement alone shows the influence of white racism on President Lincoln.

He recognizes his belief that he not only as President, but as a white man has the right to determine the future of black people due to his superiority over them. This plays an extremely significant role over his handling of the Civil War. Lincoln's reluctance to even go to war over the issue of slavery, let blacks fight for the north, and issue the Emancipation Proclamation, show that he was heavily influenced by his own racist feelings and that of the racist American public of whom he was elected to serve. In Leon Litwack's book, Been in the Storm so Long: The Aftermath of Slavery, Litwack looks at the racist attitudes that continued to prevail at the time that Lincoln finally did issue the Emancipation Proclamation. Litwack shows these attitudes not only in the southern residents, but in the northern soldiers who came to the south to enforce Emancipation. Litwack points out that "the average Union soldier brought with him certain notions about black people, based largely on the racial beliefs and exaggerated caricatures with which he had been inculcated since childhood. " (Litwack 125) This shows that the racist notions of that time were not limited to the south as is widely believed, but were also instituted in the north for some time.

This racist attitudes of the northern soldiers were even believed to have been increased because many people in the north blamed blacks as the primary cause of the war. Union soldiers also viewed blacks as "an inferior being with few if any legitimate human emotions-at least none that had to be considered with any degree of sensitivity. " (Litwack 128) This quote alone not only restates the fact that racism was prevalent in the north, but also describes the what the emotion of racism actually is. Of course, Litwack also shows the racist attitudes of the southern whites. This is shown not only by the refusal to give up their slaves, but through their lack of understanding in the whole issue of Emancipation. One southern white woman posed the question "If they don't belong to me, whose are they?" (Litwack 179) The question referred to the racist belief that the "inferior race" had to belong to someone and could not simply be free. In the south they had no concept of what it was like to have free black people around.

They did not even understand why the slaves would have any desire to become free because white people did not see any way that blacks could survive alone. Litwack's point throughout the first few chapters of his book is to show the racist attitudes of both the northern and southern white people as seen by the blacks who were present at that time. His whole concept of portraying history through the eyes of black people is something that American history textbooks are lacking. This is why Loewen maintains that if "there is one issue in the present which authors should relate the history they tell, the issue is racism. " Racism can not be explained by the side that is racist. The only way that racism in history can be explained is through the experience of the oppressed, such as in Litwack's book, Douglass's narrative, and the articles written by former slaves and abolitionists. The social and economic inferiority that was imposed on blacks throughout history has been instilled in whites to this day.

This proves wrong the misconception that simply because slavery is over, racism is also over. Loewen's overall point is that in order to end racism, students must first understand what causes racism. It is not skin color itself that causes racism, but the attitudes and ignorance of people throughout history that does. The taking and destroying of land from an entire people and then enslaving another group of people to work that land causes racism. The knowledge that a one race of people was able to completely dominate another group of people without any intervention gives the illusion of superiority and supremacy. This is racism.

Loewen also maintains that "as long as history textbooks make white racism invisible in the nineteenth century, neither they nor the student who use them will be able to analyze racism intelligently in the present. " By this he means that there is no way that students can understand or even define racism without seeing its history. This is because the very core of black and white relations lies in the racism that was prevalent as far back as our founding fathers. If students of today do not even know that the founding fathers of this very country were slave owners, how can they understand the racist notions that have been handed down from generation to generation? Loewen's point is not only valid but is also a serious problem in America today. Racism is what is hindering the progress of America in every aspect because racism affects every aspect of American lives. In order for this country to move forward, racism must be abolished in our minds, not just in law.

However, racism can not be abolished or even addressed if there is not a clear understanding of it's definition and evolvement over time. This can only be attained through a clear, concise, and accurate account of American history that is told as everyone's story, not just His-Story. WORKS CITED Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave. Bedford Books. Boston, 1993.

Dudley, William, ed. Slavery: Opposing Viewpoints. Green haven Press, Inc. San Diego, 1992. Litwack, Leon. Been in the Storm so Long: The Aftermath of Slavery.

Random House, Inc. New York, 1979. Loewen, James. Lies My Teacher Told Me. "Gone with the Wind" (publisher, copywrite date, and exact pages unknown because it was a handout) Bibliography:


Free research essays on topics related to: founding fathers, race of people, group of people, racist attitudes, emancipation proclamation

Research essay sample on Race Of People Group Of People

Writing service prices per page

  • $18.85 - in 14 days
  • $19.95 - in 3 days
  • $23.95 - within 48 hours
  • $26.95 - within 24 hours
  • $29.95 - within 12 hours
  • $34.95 - within 6 hours
  • $39.95 - within 3 hours
  • Calculate total price

Our guarantee

  • 100% money back guarantee
  • plagiarism-free authentic works
  • completely confidential service
  • timely revisions until completely satisfied
  • 24/7 customer support
  • payments protected by PayPal

Secure payment

With EssayChief you get

  • Strict plagiarism detection regulations
  • 300+ words per page
  • Times New Roman font 12 pts, double-spaced
  • FREE abstract, outline, bibliography
  • Money back guarantee for missed deadline
  • Round-the-clock customer support
  • Complete anonymity of all our clients
  • Custom essays
  • Writing service

EssayChief can handle your

  • essays, term papers
  • book and movie reports
  • Power Point presentations
  • annotated bibliographies
  • theses, dissertations
  • exam preparations
  • editing and proofreading of your texts
  • academic ghostwriting of any kind

Free essay samples

Browse essays by topic:

Stay with EssayChief! We offer 10% discount to all our return customers. Once you place your order you will receive an email with the password. You can use this password for unlimited period and you can share it with your friends!

Academic ghostwriting

About us

© 2002-2024 EssayChief.com