Matthew Mason, Slavery And Politics In The Early Republic

Matthew Mason, Slavery & Politics in the Early American Republic, focus on political debates about slavery during the early republic. Mason provides insight on slavery and politics and their involvement in the nation creation. He used rhetorical devices on political opponents throughout the national debates. Mason also observed the conflict between the Northern and southern states and the political influence of African Americans. He uses political speeches, newspaper editorials, and pamphlet to provide a clear image of slavery in public discussions. He also goes into detail about the major events that involved the issue of slavery. Mason delivers different viewpoints from politicians, abolitionist, and pro-slavery supporters. Mason believes

The New England Federalist argued that the slave representation given to southerners resulted in the Embargo Act. During the war, British aided runaway slaves and promised them freedom. America feared that slaves would be an endangerment to them, so they strengthen the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 in 1818. After the war, America wanted compensation of the slaves which increased tension on the issue of slavery. Manson claims that American saw the “bonds of their still-fragile Union attenuated by their disagreements over slavery” (105). African Americans held a significant role in the politics of slavery because of their opposition to slavery and racism. Mason highlights the influence African American had on making slavery a political issue. African Americans participated in rebellious behaviors that the Southern tried to control which led to rising tension between North and South. Mason states that the “African American Struggle for freedom and equality, contributed to the divergence between America’s emergent sections” (129). The political pursuit of free blacks in North and South encouraged protest in the slave

The compromise authorized Missouri to have no restrictions on slavery, but self-proclaimed the free state of Maine. It created a line through the remanding Louisiana Purchase and restricted slavery above line but allowed it below. The Missouri crisis complex the level of political debate over slavery. Mason believes that the “legacy of a decade’s worth of political combat involving slavery was on display” (179). The purpose was to make Missouri into a slave state and Maine a free state. The Missouri debates concerned the Northerners because they were not reassured their distance from slavery. Along with the fear of their own liberties in the Missouri constitution. The anxiety of Northerner’s distance from the South led them to oppose all slavery expansion. The Missouri Crisis had given a new clearness in the sectional politics of the United States and guided each section towards consistency on the issue of slavery. The Missouri Compromises brought awareness to the sectional nations, but it was a new beginning that would lead to civil war. Mason states that Missouri and the conflicts in the antebellum era “pushed Americans in new directions, creating extremists on both sides”