Question

document b
resolution:
we hold as undeniable truth that the governments of the various states were established exclusively by the white race for themselves and their posterity; that the african race had no (part) in their establishment; that they were rightfully held to an inferior and dependent race...
that in this free government all white men are and of right ought to be entitled to equal civil and political rights; that the servitude of the african race is mutually beneficial to both bond (slave) and free, and is justified by the experience of mankind, and the revealed will of the almighty creator.
note: the constitution of 1850 stated that free blacks could live in texas only with the permission of the legislature. (permission was seldom granted.) the free - black population of texas in the 1850 census was under 400.
document analysis

1. to whom do the authors of this resolution give credit for establishing the governments of the states and the nation? who had no part?
2. what two adjectives are used near the end of paragraph one to describe people of african origin?
3. according to this resolution, who benefits from slavery?
4. according to this resolution, what justifies slavery?
5. were free blacks allowed to live in texas? explain.
6. how can this document be used to help explain why texans fought in the civil war?

Explanation:

1. Pulled directly from the first paragraph of the resolution.
2. Identified the descriptive words at the end of the first paragraph referring to people of African origin.
3. Found the group(s) stated to benefit from slavery in the second paragraph.
4. Extracted the justifications for slavery listed in the second paragraph.
5. Used the information in the note below the resolution to answer and explain.
6. Connected the pro-slavery, white supremacist views in the resolution to Texas' motivation to fight to preserve slavery in the Civil War.

Answer:

1. The authors give credit to the white race for establishing the governments. The African race had no part.
2. The two adjectives are "inferior" and "dependent".
3. According to the resolution, both the enslaved (African race) and the white race benefit from slavery.
4. Slavery is justified by the experience of mankind and the revealed will of the Almighty Creator.
5. Free blacks were only allowed to live in Texas with the permission of the legislature, and permission was almost never granted.
6. This document shows that white Texans held extreme white supremacist and pro-slavery views, framing slavery as beneficial and divinely justified. This explains why they fought in the Civil War: to protect the institution of slavery and the white-dominated social and political order they had established.