Slavery In The United States
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Throughout this course we learned about slavery and its effects on our country and on African Americans. Slavery and racism is prevalent throughout the Americas before during and after Thomas Jeffersons presidency. Some people say that Jefferson did not really help stop any of the slavery in the United States. I feel very differently and I will explain why throughout this essay. Throughout this essay I will be explaining how views of race were changed in the United States after the presidency of Thomas Jefferson, and how the events of the Jeffersonian Era set the stage for race relations for the nineteenth century.
“Nobody wishes more ardently to see an abolition, not only of the trade, but of the condition of slavery; and certainly, nobody will be more willing to encounter every sacrifice for that object.” (Thomas Jefferson to Brissot de Warville, 1788. ME 6:428) Thomas Jefferson said this to Brissot de Warville in 1788 explaining his view on slavery in the United States. This was both positive and negative for Thomas Jefferson, in many ways. He was very positive in the abolition of slavery in the United States because Jefferson says he would do anything to stop slavery, and the slave trade in the States. Thomas Jefferson had a theory that the United States could use part of the coast of Africa, and it would be used as an establishment where African American who were in the states would be moved. Jefferson sees this as the best way to deal with the slavery issue. Jefferson thinks this is a good idea because when the African Americans got back to Africa they would take the things they learned wile they were enslaved here and us them back in Africa. Thomas Jefferson saw this as retribution to the African Americans for all that they were put through in the States. As you can see Jefferson did not approve of slavery at all, he wanted to abolish it all together, but he didnt want to give his slaves their freedom. This is where people say that Thomas Jefferson is very hypocritical, and wrong.
On March 2, 1807 Thomas Jefferson signed a bill that would stop the slave trade on January 1, 1808. The slave trade was not only a problem with the government it was a problem morally for everyone part of it. Jefferson was the one who really got the wheels turning in the issue of abolishing slavery in the United States. In 1790 a law was passed that prohibited any US citizen from participating in the slave trade with foreign ports. Also another law was passed in 1794, and it said that no one can give parts, help fix, ro help any vessels that are used for slave trading. As you can see form all of these laws that before during and after the Jeffersonian era the United States was trying to put a stop to slavery without going through a civil war.
In 1787 the United States made up the ordinance of 1787, this banned any slavery north of the Ohio River. This made the north the place to be for runaway slaves. The north was a place where all runaway slaves can go and be free. This was very good for the slaves and the northern colonies because of the strong moral obligations that northern settlers had against slavery. Also another good thing that congress passed in favor of African Americans was the 3/5 ordinance. This said that slaves could vote but if five slaves voted than it would only count as 3 votes. This was good and bad for African Americans. It is good because African Americans are getting their say in the government, but it is very bad because their votes are not worth the same amount as white settlers. When the war of 1812 broke out racism was once again a factor in the war. When the war broke out the southern settlers did not allow African Americans to join their military. This was not good because this showed once again that African Americans were still oppressed and looked down upon.
Throughout Jeffersons reign as president of the United States he did many good things that led to the freedom or Slaves. He also practiced slavery and that totally goes against what he was preaching. I feel that what Jefferson did during his presidency definitely outweighed the bad things he did. Jefferson started the abolition against slavery in the 19th century, and starts to change the minds of many men with the issue of slavery. The Jeffersonian era helped change many peoples views about slavery, and helped change Americas views on slavery.
Bob Walsh
Essay #2
Mr. Mace
Nov 20, 2006
In the movie Amistad there was a lot of racism shown throughout the movie. This movie was a great example of how people must change because of how horrible slavery really was. Throughout this essay I will be explaining how race is seen through 1939-1942. I will also be explaining how John Quincy Adams closing speech shows that our country will be going into civil war.
Amistad is about a group of slaves that have been kidnapped from Africa and are put on a boat and shipped to Cuba where they are given fake names and fake documents saying they were from Cuba. This is very illegal at the time and this is how the slaves become free. On their travels to the Americas the slaves revolt and kill all of the crew except two men. They told