Aminah Alhindi

November 3, 2017

Inequality, racism, and slavery shaped the American society in history. Inequality,

racism, and slavery helped in creating tensions between citizens and that lead to dividing the

American nation.

Inequality was incorporated in helping the American society to divide its nation. In

document A it states, “Brothers, since these Englishmen have seized our country, they cut down

grass, and trees..destroying the environment of our game and dear.. Cows and horses eat up grass

, their hogs spoil our bed and we shall starve to death, therefore, stand not in your own light, I

ask you, but resolve to act like men.” Due to the American Society taking Native American land,

it lead to the destruction of their lifestyle and habitat. This quote describes how inequality

towards the Native Americans destroyed their life by leaving them with no homes and they

starved to death. The Americans selfish need of wanting to become a nation destroyed and

divided another group of nation. Furthermore, the text states, “Cause you can persuade your

Indians to do what you will.. And when you see the three fires that will be made...then act as we

act the next day fall on and kill men, women and children, but no cows, they must not be killed

as we need them for provisions, till the deer come again..” This line describes how due to

inequality towards the Native Americans, society was divided. The Indians were determined to

kill men, women, and children in order to live and not starve to death. America's racism and

inequality towards Native Americans lead to the tensions that divided the nation.

Inequality and racism towards women and African Americans lead to tensions in

America that divided the nation. The image in Document B, shows a white man stating, “Well,
Gentlemen, that wraps it up.. Are we forgetting anybody?”, while he states that, there is a image

of a women cleaning under him. When the man stares if he is forgetting anybody he forgets the

women, which shows inequality. Inequality created tensions in the American society because

women didn't have the right so they fought for it, and that lead to the division of the nation.

Women fighting for their women rights created conflicts in the American Society. To add on,

When the man states that if he is forgetting anybody, I realize that he is speaking to a group of

white men. I notice that there isn’t any African American men which shows racism. Racism

towards African Americans lead to the division of the nation. African Americans fought for their

freedom and that created tensions.

Slavery helped divide the nation by creating tensions. In document D, it states “Would

you have me argue that man is entitled to liberty? That he is the rightful owner of his boy? You

have already declared it. Must I argue that Wrongfulness of slavery? Is that a question for

republicans? Is it to be settled by the rules of logic and argumentation,.?” In this document the

writer lists questions about how everyone should have natural rights to do whatever the desire

including slaves. But he questions whether the republicans would argue against this statement.

Abolishing slavery divided the Nation into two and created tensions between the north and south.

Additionally, document D states, “How should I look to-day, in presence of Americans, dividing,

and subdividing a discourse, to show that men have a natural right to freedom? Speaking of it

relatively and positively, negatively and affirmatively.” Readers indicate that the writer is

confused why in order to show that men have the right to freedom we have to divide the nation.

The American society divided the nation into two because of slavery.
 Inequality, racism, and slavery helped in creating tensions between citizens and that lead

to dividing the American nation. Inequality toward women and Native Americans caused

tensions. Racism towards African Americans and slavery caused the division of the nation.