Study this source. Source A (your primary source for this question) 'The election of Abraham Lincoln proves that the North intends to destroy our way of lif...

Source analysis

Source A is a Charleston newspaper editorial from December 1860, written at the moment South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union. It lists several Southern grievances: Lincoln's election, tariffs benefiting Northern factories while Southern planters suffered, Congressional neglect, and opposition to slavery's expansion into western territories. The language is emotionally charged ('tyranny,' 'destroy our way of life'), portraying secession as defensive and honourable. The source reveals how secession was justified publicly, framing it as a response to Northern aggression rather than an act to preserve slavery.

Contextual knowledge

The source is useful as primary evidence from the heart of the secession crisis, but it is heavily biased. It downplays slavery as the central issue, instead emphasising tariffs and states' rights, which was a common rhetorical strategy among Southern leaders. However, other evidence shows slavery was the fundamental cause: the Confederate constitution explicitly protected the institution, and Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens declared in March 1861 that slavery was the 'cornerstone' of the new government. The source also represents only one strand of Southern opinion: many Southerners, particularly non-slaveholders and Unionists in border states like Kentucky and Missouri, opposed secession. Lincoln had not threatened to abolish slavery where it already existed; he only opposed its extension into new territories.

Mark scheme (Levels of Response) [8 marks]

• Level 1 [1-3 marks]: Simple statements. For example, 'The source is useful because it tells us why the South seceded.' No evaluation of content or limitations.
• Level 2 [4-6 marks]: Evaluates content (specific grievances listed, emotional language, timing from the first state to secede) OR limitations (biased perspective, downplays slavery, does not represent all Southern opinion). Addresses one side but not both.
• Level 3 [7-8 marks]: Evaluates BOTH usefulness AND limitations using source details and own knowledge. Explains what the source reveals about how secession was publicly justified, but also demonstrates that its emphasis on tariffs and rights obscures the central role of slavery. Uses knowledge of the Confederate constitution and Stephens' 'cornerstone' speech to challenge the source's framing.

Exam reminder: A source that is biased is not useless. Bias tells you about the attitudes and arguments of the people who created the source. Explain what the bias reveals as well as what it conceals.