TXnMA to TEXOKIE
RE: SLAVERY:
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I’m sure you’ve heard that some ignoramuses are wanting to “cancel” the National Anthem — because the third verse contains the word, “slave”.
That is precisely the ignorance problem that the lack of — or warped — teaching of history allows to happen!
The referenced “Slave”(s) were Non-Black IMPRESSED Sailors. (Look up “impressment” and “War of 1812” together...) Here’s an (annotated) excerpt from
“British Navy Impressment”
Impressment, or “press gang” as it was more commonly known, was recruitment by force. It was a practice that directly affected the U.S. and was even one of the causes of the War of 1812.
The British navy consistently suffered manpower shortages due to the low pay and a lack of qualified seamen. During wartime the navy forced unwilling individuals into service. Residents of seaports lived in fear of the press gangs that patrolled waterfronts and raided taverns, pouncing on deserters and idle mariners. Prints from the time show armed gangs kidnapping men in their beds, or barging into weddings and hauling the groom out much to the distress of the bride.
But generally “pressing” took place at sea where the armed gangs would board merchant ships. These ships were ransacked of their men and often left without sufficient hands to take them safely into port.
SNIP
While essential for the strength of the British Navy, the brutal nature of impressment was deeply unpopular. Many viewed it as an inhumane and unconstitutional system.
American merchant vessels were a common target. Between 1793 and 1812, the British impressed more than 15,000 U.S. sailors to supplement their fleet during their Napoleonic Wars with France. By 1812 the United States Government had had enough. On 18 June, the United States declared war on Great Britain, citing, in part, impressment.
So — the “Slaves” in the Anthem were Impressed seamen from all the world’s merchant navies — and had ZERO CONNECTION TO Black Slavery.
And, the US fought the War of 1812, in part, to end that particular form of slavery!
Cancel Ignorance!
TXnMA
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Thank you for the excellent historical background to the discussion on slavery greeneyes brought to us, TXnMA. Pinging the list!
Also, because I forgot to do so, here is another link which I did not send out to the ping list from Pete from Shawnee Mission:
https://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3860770/posts?page=555#555