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Argumentative Essay: The Evolution Of Slavery In America

627 Words3 Pages

Slavery in America persisted well past the revolutionary war. When Marquis de Lafayette arrived on American shores in 1820 the nation was still full of, and struggling with, slavery. Though the nation had been slowly evolving, the Marquis surely would have seen us in our slavery prime at that period. Perhaps Lafayette may have thought: “how did they get to here?” or “have they done anything to prevent this?” Let’s take a brief look at the evolution of slavery from the revolutionary period to the Marquis’ visit.
In the territory northwest of the Ohio an act was adopted in 1787 prohibiting slavery, but it also provided for the surrender of fugitive slaves that came from that territory. The Constitution also contained a provision that stated …show more content…

In the one slavery appeared to be absolutely essential, while in the other it became deprived of utility. “Defenders of slavery argued that the sudden end to the slave economy would have had a profound and killing economic impact in the South where reliance on slave labor was the foundation of their economy.” (“The Southern Argument…”)
In the North opinions in favor of emancipation grew in strength during the Revolutionary war period. The abolition societies became more robust, with specific emphasis on Pennsylvania. Similar societies were eventually founded in the other States. Even in states like Virginia the importation of slaves was forbidden by 1788. Steps began to be taken in favor of a very gradual emancipation. In 1789 North Carolina yielded their western region to the United States with the stipulation that no action should be taken to prohibit slavery in this region, in 1802 Georgia followed suit. These were the first steps toward extending the reach and power of slavery in America. In 1793 a law was passed by Congress, which ordered the return of a slave from any State or Territory to which he had fled, also in that year Eli Whitney invented his cotton gin. “A fairly simple device… the gin quickly separated the seed from the cotton.” (Foner 327) This one invention increased the demand for slavery beyond anything America had seen

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