The issue of slavery caused tension in the USA.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2023). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1-4] 'John Brown drew attention to the evils of slavery.'
2. [1-4] 'He highlighted slavery by various violent campaigns.'
3. [1-4] 'His attack on Harpers Ferry attracted the nation's attention to the issue of slavery.'
4. [1-4] 'He was viewed as a martyr by some people.'
5. [1-4] 'Brown had an influence on slave uprisings in the Caribbean.'
6. [2-3] 'The slaves were needed in the cotton plantations.'
7. [2-3] 'Owners said they would not make a profit without slaves.'
8. [2-3] 'Many white Southerners believed they were superior to black people.'
9. [2-3] 'Some thought black people were put on earth to be slave labour.'
10. [2-3] 'Slavery was a benevolent institution that kept slaves fed, clothed and occupied.'
11. [2-3] 'Slaves were needed in tobacco plantations and general farming.'
12. [4-5] 'With the invention of Eli Whitney's 'gin' and the invention of textile machinery in Britain, there was a great demand for cotton. Growing cotton was labour intensive and cotton growers in the South made use of slave labour. Cotton owners said that it would not be profitable if they had to pay their labour. Therefore they supported the use of slave labour.'
13. [6] Level 4 Explains TWO reasons (e.g., economic necessity and perceived racial superiority).
14. [2-3] 'Northern and Southern states disagreed about slavery.'
15. [2-3] 'The South was worried when Lincoln was elected President.'
16. [2-3] 'The Northern states were against slavery.'
17. [2-3] 'Secession was a threat to the Union.'
18. [2-3] 'The Southern states were adamant that they had a right to keep slavery as they needed slaves to turn a profit on their plantations.'
19. [2-3] 'Lincoln was worried that other states would secede, so he went to war to save the Union.'
20. [4-6] 'Secession could have led to the break-up of the United States. Northern politicians wanted to secure the Union. If the South seceded, other areas might decide to leave the Union. The election of Abraham Lincoln as President provoked the South. Lincoln was known for his anti-slavery views and feared he would act. Lincoln had no intention of allowing the South to secede from the Union.'
21. [4-6] 'The South felt it needed to keep slavery so that it could run its plantations with a profit. Southerners thought slaves were ideal for picking cotton and tobacco. Southerners believed that the North did not understand this factor and this led to increased tension between North and South which eventually got so bad it led to war.'
22. [7-9] Level 4 Explanation of both sides (A L4 answer will have a minimum of three explanations (2 on one side; 1 on the other). Fuller explanation of one issue to be given two marks. An answer which only has one explanation on one side of the argument cannot be awarded more than 8.)
23. [10] Level 5 Explains with evaluation of 'how far' (As Level 4 plus evaluation.)