... he witnessed the brutal murder of a slave in Hannibal. The black man was killed with a rock thrown by a white man because he was said to be "doing something awkward." (Smith) A review of Twain's Civil War record also "sheds some light on his Southern feelings about defending slavery and toward what he called the white "tainted aristocracy"." (Smith) In 1877, at a banquet ... even in his home state of Missouri. (Smith) Twain, determined to do something about it, decided to write a magazine article condemning the practice. This article begged compassionate missionaries to "leave China, co...

• Word Count: 1090
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School