Question
Choose one of the roles below and think about the election of 1860 from this perspective. Remember that votes at this time are not private, and anyone in the community might find out how another person has voted.
Role A: You are a free African-American Farmer in Indiana (N). You can not vote. Some of your relatives are slaves. Your main concern is making a living on your small farm. Who will you encourage your white neighbor to vote for?
Role B: You are a white tenant farmer in Kentucky (B). You do not own your own farm. You are not in favor of abolition. You would like to own your own farm and you are considering moving west to find land. You do not want to compete with slave owners in the territories. Who will you vote for?
Role C: You are a married woman with young children living in Pennsylvania (N). You can not vote. You are from Massachusetts (N) and were taught that slavery was wrong. You have married the son of a wealthy planter from Louisiana (S) whose father uses slavery for his plantation. Who will you encourage your husband to vote for?
Role D: You are a steamboat worker in Memphis, Tennessee (B). You worry that a war could put you out of work and are in favor of preserving the Union. Your boss is a strong supporter of Breckenridge and has encouraged you to vote for him as well. Who will you vote for?
Role E: You are an army officer born in Georgia (S) but raised by your relatives in New York (N). You fought in the Mexican War and you are on duty as an officer in Texas (S) with the Army. Who will you vote for?
Role A: You are a free African-American Farmer in Indiana (N). You can not vote. Some of your relatives are slaves. Your main concern is making a living on your small farm. Who will you encourage your white neighbor to vote for?
Role B: You are a white tenant farmer in Kentucky (B). You do not own your own farm. You are not in favor of abolition. You would like to own your own farm and you are considering moving west to find land. You do not want to compete with slave owners in the territories. Who will you vote for?
Role C: You are a married woman with young children living in Pennsylvania (N). You can not vote. You are from Massachusetts (N) and were taught that slavery was wrong. You have married the son of a wealthy planter from Louisiana (S) whose father uses slavery for his plantation. Who will you encourage your husband to vote for?
Role D: You are a steamboat worker in Memphis, Tennessee (B). You worry that a war could put you out of work and are in favor of preserving the Union. Your boss is a strong supporter of Breckenridge and has encouraged you to vote for him as well. Who will you vote for?
Role E: You are an army officer born in Georgia (S) but raised by your relatives in New York (N). You fought in the Mexican War and you are on duty as an officer in Texas (S) with the Army. Who will you vote for?
Answers
Answer
Writing from the perspective of the person you chose above, explain which candidate you would support for president in 1860, and why.
Remember that votes at this time are not private, and anyone in the community might find out how another person has voted.
Include information from your role description and the candidate information table to support your reasoning.
MAKE IT ROLE A
Remember that votes at this time are not private, and anyone in the community might find out how another person has voted.
Include information from your role description and the candidate information table to support your reasoning.
MAKE IT ROLE A
Answered by
GPT 3.5
Role A: As a free African-American farmer in Indiana, I would encourage my white neighbor to vote for Abraham Lincoln. While I cannot vote myself, I believe that Lincoln's opposition to the spread of slavery is important for the future of all Americans, including my relatives who are still enslaved.
Role B: As a white tenant farmer in Kentucky, I would vote for John Bell of the Constitutional Union Party. I am not in favor of abolition, but I also do not want to see the spread of slavery to the territories and have to compete with slave owners for land. Bell's moderate stance on slavery and the Union resonates with my own views.
Role C: As a married woman living in Pennsylvania, I would encourage my husband to vote for Abraham Lincoln. While I understand that my husband's family relies on slavery for their plantation, I cannot support such a cruel institution. Lincoln's stance against the spread of slavery aligns with my own beliefs, and I hope my husband will see the importance of this issue.
Role D: As a steamboat worker in Memphis, Tennessee, I would vote for John Breckinridge. I am worried about how a war could impact my job and the stability of the Union. My boss has encouraged me to support Breckinridge, and I trust his judgment in this matter.
Role E: As an army officer born in Georgia but raised in New York, I would vote for Stephen Douglas. I believe that Douglas's support for popular sovereignty in the territories is the best way to avoid conflict and preserve the Union. As someone who has seen the effects of war firsthand, I believe that Douglas's approach is the most peaceful and effective way forward.
Role B: As a white tenant farmer in Kentucky, I would vote for John Bell of the Constitutional Union Party. I am not in favor of abolition, but I also do not want to see the spread of slavery to the territories and have to compete with slave owners for land. Bell's moderate stance on slavery and the Union resonates with my own views.
Role C: As a married woman living in Pennsylvania, I would encourage my husband to vote for Abraham Lincoln. While I understand that my husband's family relies on slavery for their plantation, I cannot support such a cruel institution. Lincoln's stance against the spread of slavery aligns with my own beliefs, and I hope my husband will see the importance of this issue.
Role D: As a steamboat worker in Memphis, Tennessee, I would vote for John Breckinridge. I am worried about how a war could impact my job and the stability of the Union. My boss has encouraged me to support Breckinridge, and I trust his judgment in this matter.
Role E: As an army officer born in Georgia but raised in New York, I would vote for Stephen Douglas. I believe that Douglas's support for popular sovereignty in the territories is the best way to avoid conflict and preserve the Union. As someone who has seen the effects of war firsthand, I believe that Douglas's approach is the most peaceful and effective way forward.
Answered by
GPT 3.5
As a free African-American farmer in Indiana, I believe that the best candidate to support for president in 1860 is Abraham Lincoln. Even though I cannot vote myself, I would encourage my white neighbor to cast their ballot for Lincoln.
Abraham Lincoln's opposition to the spread of slavery aligns with my own beliefs and values. I have seen the horrors of slavery firsthand, with some of my relatives being held in bondage. I believe that allowing slavery to expand into new territories will only perpetuate and worsen this evil institution. Lincoln's commitment to preventing the spread of slavery is crucial for ensuring a more just and equal future for all Americans, including myself and my enslaved relatives.
Furthermore, Lincoln's platform of preserving the Union while also addressing the issue of slavery is important to me. I understand the significance of maintaining a united country, but I also believe that we cannot ignore the injustices of slavery. Lincoln's middle-ground approach resonates with me, as it acknowledges the complexities of the situation and seeks a path forward that is both just and peaceful.
In conclusion, Abraham Lincoln is the candidate who best represents my values and concerns as a free African-American farmer in Indiana. I hope that my white neighbor will see the importance of supporting Lincoln in the upcoming election, as his leadership could bring about positive change for our nation.
Abraham Lincoln's opposition to the spread of slavery aligns with my own beliefs and values. I have seen the horrors of slavery firsthand, with some of my relatives being held in bondage. I believe that allowing slavery to expand into new territories will only perpetuate and worsen this evil institution. Lincoln's commitment to preventing the spread of slavery is crucial for ensuring a more just and equal future for all Americans, including myself and my enslaved relatives.
Furthermore, Lincoln's platform of preserving the Union while also addressing the issue of slavery is important to me. I understand the significance of maintaining a united country, but I also believe that we cannot ignore the injustices of slavery. Lincoln's middle-ground approach resonates with me, as it acknowledges the complexities of the situation and seeks a path forward that is both just and peaceful.
In conclusion, Abraham Lincoln is the candidate who best represents my values and concerns as a free African-American farmer in Indiana. I hope that my white neighbor will see the importance of supporting Lincoln in the upcoming election, as his leadership could bring about positive change for our nation.
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