I don't know what surface you are looking under, but there is none of that here. The point we have been trying to make is that slavery was indeed to cause of sectional tension in this country from its very beginning. Many of the Founders saw that and commented on it. Jefferson and others even predicted that slavery would be the rock upon which the Union would split. He was right.
Racism was not the issue. 99% of the people in the country back then, North and South, would be considered racists by even the mildest standards today. But many, perhaps even a majority, thought slavery to be wrong and in direct conflict with the nations founding ideals and principles. People like Washington, Jefferson, Franklyn, Adams and most of the Founding fathers saw it as wrong.
It is true that all societies throughout history engaged in slavery in one form or another, and that virtually all races and nationalities at one time or another were victims of slavery. But that is not the point and it does nothing to excuse American slavery.
We were founded to know better, and quite frankly we did know better. But we chose as a nation to ignore our principles and allow the practice to continue long past the time when it should have ceased. We allowed it to continue because it was financially profitable for a few very powerful people while at the same time denigrating the rest of population.
That is why comparing American slavery with barbarians like the Muslims is no excuse whatsoever. Slavery is a stain on our history and the cause of the most gruesome war in our history. To pretend otherwise or to somehow attempt to minimize it or excuse it does no service to either our history or the memory of our forefathers who struggled mightily with these questions.
History is important. Do your best to get it right and don't blink at the ugly parts.
For your information:
- According to Slavery In America, 500,000 slaves were brought to America. Many more were taken to the Caribbean and South and Central America.
- According to the Anti-Slavery Society, there are 2.7 million slaves in the world today, while others estimate up to 27 million (using a different definition).
Great post.
Great post.