Section B: American option The origins of the Civil War, 1820-61. Read the sources and then answer both parts of the question. Source A I believe that the Republicans are a party of ethnic hatred and cultural tyranny. Much of their support comes from anti-immigrant extremists. I see the Republican Party as similar to another party that has emerged recently, the anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic party, better known as the Know-Nothings. Both aim to exclude the foreign-born from political life in the United States. I see Abolitionism, Know-Nothingism and Republicanism and all other 'isms' to be in alliance. The growth of Republicanism demonstrates the powerful influence of sheer prejudice in much of the northern electorate. We must end our own destructive divisions and unite to defeat this new and growing force. From a letter by Stephen Douglas to a leading Southern Democrat, October 1858. Source B Despite the fact that this new party is one of dishonourable coalitions, shallow expediency and bad leadership by dishonest politicians, it should still be a success. Their Philadelphia Platform of 1856 is to be praised as a statement of essential truths. They did not turn a deaf ear to the millions of blacks in chains. They supported the beliefs of our Founding Fathers and argued that slavery and freedom cannot exist together under the Constitution. They laid down a few clear principles and proposed a few practical measures. These were sufficiently broad for all anti-slavery men, as well as those who were wary of the idea of emancipation of black people, to agree on. They therefore deserve my support and I now stand with the Republican Party. From a speech by a member of the House of Representatives from Pennsylvania, who had been a member of both the Whig and the Free-Soil parties, October 1858. Source C In the past I felt that southern slaves were happier and better off than the free black people in the North. I also considered the principles of the abolitionists false, foolish, wicked and unchristian. However, since the brutal attack on Senator Sumner on the floor of the Senate, which has left him near death, by a supporter of slavery, I have reconsidered my views. I fear the shameless brutality of the Southern aristocratic slave-owners may drive me into not only abolitionism but also into supporting the Republican ticket. The barbarism demonstrated by the Fugitive Slave Law has also driven me into this view. I now see Southern slavery as the greatest crime of modern history. My feelings go out to those men and women who are enslaved. Emancipation should be the outcome, together with the rights and privileges that accompany citizenship of this country. I will join with the angry working class of the North who are arming against an arrogant Southern aristocracy, and contribute to, and vote for, the Republican Party. From the private diary of a prominent New York lawyer, August 1859. Source D I believe the reason why the Republican party is growing in support in the North is because it rightly, in my long-held view, opposes slavery. However, I feel it is not a question of sympathy for the Africans or much interest in the slavery question itself. It is because our American free labouring men fear losing their work to the slaves of the Southern aristocracy. Slavery represents a threat to their livelihoods and we see it as a criminal activity. I think the recent events in Boston over the brutal enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Law on men, women and children has reinforced this view and increased the demand for abolition. It matters not to me, or those who voted for me, whether they happen to be African slaves, Asian or European. While some feel that all men are created equal, I do not think that every man has the same rights. Our Northern people prize their political privileges too highly to think of sharing them with three or four million emancipated slaves. From a letter by a Democratic party politician in the ‘New York Daily Tribune', a leading abolitionist newspaper, December 1859. Answer both parts of the question with reference to the sources.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2025). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] Both are opposed to slavery itself, with Source C having 'reconsidered my views' on the subject and coming out firmly against it, and Source D simply states, ‘because it rightly, in my view, opposes slavery'.
2. [1] Both sources have been strongly influenced by the upholding of the Fugitive Slave Law; in Source C ‘barbarism demonstrated' by the Fugitive Slave Law and by its ‘brutal enforcement' in Source D.
3. [1] Source C now sees slavery as a 'crime', while Source D sees it as a 'criminal activity'.
4. [1] Source C had a different journey towards abolition and had not been initially hostile to slavery but had changed his mind for various stated reasons. The author of Source D mentions his 'long held 'opposition to slavery.
5. [1] Source C demonstrates sympathy for the plight of the slaves, noting that his 'feelings go out to them'. Source D says that the opposition comes 'not a question of sympathy' because of the threat to the northern workforce 'our American free labouring men fear losing their work to the slaves of the Southern aristocracy'.
6. [1] Source C suggests that emancipation should be the outcome and could lead to former slaves getting the rights and privileges of all US citizens. Source D suggests that while 'some feel that all men are created equal', there were reservations about whether they should get the same rights as white citizens.
7. [1] There are different purposes behind the two sources. One is a private diary not intended for publication, the other in an abolitionist newspaper, is by a serving politician (presumably anxious for votes) who would be well aware of what his constituents might be thinking. He might also be anxious not to write anything which might offend.1859 was a critical time; the Republican Party was making strong inroads in the North, particularly in formerly strong, working class, Democratic areas. The Fugitive Slave Law's enforcement was making a serious impact on Northern public opinion, and reinforcing the abolitionists' position in the North, as well as that of the secessionists in the South. There was also a growing fragmentation of both the Whig and the Democrat Parties into Northern and Southern sections.
8. [0] Accept any other valid responses.
9. [1] Source B supports the view; the Party ' did not turn a deaf ear' to the issue and maintains that 'slavery and freedom' could not exist together under the Constitution.
10. [1] Source C is the strongest support for the assertion. He sees slavery as a 'crime', and this is further reinforced by his comments on the Fugitive Slave Law and the actions and behaviour of the slave owners and their supporters.
11. [1] Source D also supports the assertion that the Republican Party 'is growing in support in the North is because it rightly, in my long-held view, opposes slavery'. There is more dislike for the slave owners and their methods and their economic threat than the actual idea of slavery itself.
12. [1] Source A clearly challenges the assertion and stresses that the main support for the Republican Party is coming from those who are hostile to immigrants and the increasing number of Irish Roman Catholics who were coming into the North. The mention of excluding the 'foreign born' from political life was a major issue in the North at the time. The famine in Ireland led to hundreds of thousands of Irish coming to the United States and settling in both Boston and New York. Douglas also mentions the 'destructive' divisions within his own party, the Democrats, which was fracturing badly into Northern and Southern sections.
13. [1] Source B challenges the view by suggesting the Republicans gained support from a wide range of people with terms ‘sufficiently broad' to encompass 'anti-slavery men, as well as those who were wary of the idea of emancipation of black people'.
14. [1] Source A: is by a leading Northern Democrat, recently elected as a Senator for Illinois, defeating Lincoln in the process. He was bound to be critical of the Republicans, while at the same time being fearful for his own seat and the future of his increasingly divided party. There is strong element of political propaganda in what he says, given the date of the letter.
15. [1] Source B: provides evidence of the broader factions drawn to the Republicans. The Whigs, already divided over enslavement, splintered as Northern Whigs opposed the Fugitive Slave Act while Southern Whigs supported it. This fragmentation accelerated their demise. This could be evaluated in the context of moderates, Free Soilers, and former Whigs who opposed expansion of slavery but were not necessarily abolitionists, using the context of the enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Act and widespread resistance to it. Candidates could use their knowledge of the Underground Railroad and the importance of Pennsylvania proximity to Maryland to evaluate this source.
16. [1] Source C: reflects a journey' was not untypical for many in the North, particularly the better off, and does reflect well the feelings of many at the time. Candidates could use their knowledge of the Sumner assault in the Senate chamber which became a symbol of southern aggression, to support the arguments made and this could be seen to strengthen the value of the source as evidence.
17. [1] Source D: is by a member of the State Legislature, and therefore well aware of popular opinions held in the State. With New York having one of the broader franchises in the US at the time, with most adult males having the vote, he would be conscious of working-class feelings at the time.
18. [0] Accept any other valid responses.