As America began to grow, the United States quickly became known as the land of freedom and opportunity. While this seems like a great way to make yourself known, one thing that gave it a bigger boost was the civil war, which ironically was caused by a lack of freedom and opportunity. This caused a great division throughout the still young nation with different views and ideas on how the government should respond to the growing problem of slavery. This time period can be best represented by Harriet Jacobs' ability to effectively inform the reader and put into perspective the hardships of being a slave during the Civil War era in her novel, Incidents in the Life of a Slave. Harriet Jacobs' story accurately represents the time period in which it was written by showing the way women were treated, the effects of the Fugitive Slave Act, and white supremacy in the 1800s. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay One example is the way African women were often treated during that time. Jacob talks about how no slave will learn to tremble when she feels her Master's kick. She will be forced to realize that she is no longer a child." This quote can connect to. Of the Civil War because it shows how quickly a young woman could be expected to live. This also reveals how many have been exposed to inappropriate behavior by many. Jacob also shows how women were seen as having no value and were often whipped, raped, and/or killed unless they consistently benefited their owner. Another example is that Howard Jacobs is able to show the effects of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. In the book, Linda states that she had "only one hesitation, and that was my feeling of insecurity in New York, now greatly increased by the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act." At the beginning of the passage, Linda, the main protagonist, had almost no worries when it came to getting out and about, even alone, until later in the book, when the law is introduced, Linda soon begins to look back at her in every moment. . Not only was this law passed, but many feared for their safety whether they were free or enslaved, causing Linda to become more cautious because her previous owner or master, Dr. Flint, was on the hunt for her. This law is important in the book because it causes Linda to be apprehensive throughout the book. The saw is also important to that time period because it was one of the major triggers of the Civil War and caused extreme tensions between the North and the South. Additionally, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl places great emphasis on the white supremacy that existed and had a great impact on the company and the way it was managed. The white option sees itself as being of higher status and belittles Natives and African Americans. Jacob's often refers to the amount of racism in the 19th century. In both the story and the book, white people often treated black people terribly and were used like inhumane animals. In the book, a slave owner says to his slave, "Do you know that I have the right to do whatever I want with you, that I can kill you if I want?" This shows that most slave owners felt superior and that slaves were nothing more than disposable property. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay Takes readers through the life of a slave, Jacobs is..