In order to form a more perfect union, the people of the United States must recognize the contrasting nature of slavery, and the founding ideals of the United States. The history of slavery, as with all subjects of history, is long and complicated. If some hapless historian were to attempt to detail the entirety of slavery from its first beginnings to its most modern forms, his work would surely never be done. Unfortunately, from the biblical and ancient Grecian years of involuntary servitude, to the russian and medieval periods of serfdom, and all the way to the human trafficking problems that still occur in first world countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, slavery has been a constant plague upon the world. However, …show more content…
For this reason, perhaps it would be best to start with the writer of the Declaration of the United States himself, Thomas Jefferson. No founding father has had nearly a complicated relationship with slavery than that of Thomas Jefferson, a man who wrote on the topic of freedom while at the same time maintaining a large plantation of slaves. A very interesting dichotomy, one which Jefferson would attempt to reconcile while drafting the Declaration. There he claims that George III “waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating its most sacred rights of life and liberty in the person of a distant people who never offended him” (deleted passage from the Declaration of Independence) by allowing slavery to exist within itself and its …show more content…
In many cases “the British promised freedom to slaves, as well as indentured servants, who would bear arms for the Loyalist cause” (The American Revolution, pg 172), as opposed to the patriots reluctance to even allow colored men to join in the battle (pg 173). An interesting contrast that the patriots would fight with a rally cry of “give me liberty, or give me death” and yet, would deny able bodied men the right to fight alongside them in defense of said liberty. This strange paradox only worsens, due to the very blunt fact that the british attempt to free American slaves actually led to an increase in southern state participation against the English. “For many whites, especially in Virginia, the Revolution became primarily a war to defend slavery” (pg 173), rather than the long list of injustices claimed in the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson. No, it was the prospect of losing their economic goat, that led the people of the very same state that Thomas Jefferson came from, to finally join the
By pointing out the relation between rebellion and government, Thomas Jefferson made a very interesting statement. He believed that recurring changes in revolution had to exist to obtain a healthy democracy and government. By believing this he also believed in rebellion. Taking from Jefferson’s statement a rebellion corrects the faults of a government and more importantly is necessary to guarantee the strength of a society and supports the public freedom.
Political parties, Democratic Republicans and Federalists, started in the U.S. because of differing views of Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, and the influence of newspapers. Jefferson’s and Hamilton’s different ways of thinking(mostly on issues that was beneficial for the country) played a huge part in the start of political parties. They fought about economy. Jefferson liked farming while Hamilton preferred manufacturing and trade. Interpretation of the Constitution was another thing they fought upon.
The Constitution of the United States was formed in order to unify the separate states into one country, under one government. It established the government, laws and proclaimed the rights of United States citizens. Under the Constitution slavery was neither legal nor illegal, creating problems eventually leading to the dissolution of the Union. This oversight in the Constitution led to increased tension between the North, who called for an end to slavery, and the South were the institution was deeply rooted. The rapid expansion of the United States during the 1850’s through 1860’s revitalized the slavery debate, and called for decision on whether slavery would continue and spread, or be outlawed.
From the American Revolution to the 13th Amendment, the institution of slavery has been a major issue in the United States. Many individuals and groups fought relentlessly against slavery, speaking out about the evils of slavery and what threats it poses to the preservation of the Union. The government also attempted to deal with slavery, but not all attempts were successful. Since slaves were the backbone of the South’s economy, compromise on slavery was very difficult. This is a result of southern representatives in the federal government fighting very persistently against abolitionists.
Slavery in the U.S. Constitution After the Unites States declared Independence from Great Britain in 1776, they greatly feared a strong national government that would be like a monarchy like the one Great Britain had. To prevent this tyrannical government from happening in the U.S., a convention of delegates from all thirteen states were brought together to create the U.S.’s first written constitution: the Articles of Confederation. This convention was called the Continental Congress. The Articles of Confederation focused on having a federal government, or a loose alliance of the states.
Thomas Jefferson’s works and ideas laid the foundation for several key aspects on the limits of the United States government, the idea of separation of church and state, and the importance of personal rights. Jefferson wrote many influential pieces of literature which pushed the concept of having limited government power. Jefferson wanted America not to be like the European monarchies that fell due to religious strife, so he emphasized a secular government. Jefferson, following closely with the ideas of John Locke, stressed the importance of the protection of individual rights against the government. Thomas Jefferson believed that a government should have limitations.
In retrospect, the history of the antebellum America is quite fascinating. During this period, the young republic faced several challenges. One of the most serious ones was the slavery issue. Reading the related materials, people might understand that the Founding Fathers had actually pondered about the solution to the issue; however, they did not pursue it because they foresaw possible turmoil in American politics. Unfortunately, the issue kept simmering until it reached the boiling point which resulted in the disastrous Civil War.