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Each era is remembered for something : 1920’s – Roaring Twenties, Ford Model T 1930’s – The Great Depression 1950’s – car, tv , rock n’ roll, rise of middle class America 1960’s – Space Race, Civil Rights 1970’s – Vietnam, protests. 2014?. Slavery. This topic defined this era…
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Each era is remembered for something:1920’s – Roaring Twenties, Ford Model T1930’s – The Great Depression1950’s – car, tv, rock n’ roll, rise of middle class America1960’s – Space Race, Civil Rights1970’s – Vietnam, protests 2014?
Slavery • This topic defined this era… • Despite the topic being so clear to us today… • At the time, there were many sides to the story, many opinions • Southerners, Northerners, free African Americans, business owners, workers, plantation owners, Quakers, indentured servants, poor whites • What were other countries doing? GB? France? • Politicians hesitant to lay down the law (fearing the loss of their own job) • Fear of ruining the economy
Slavery • It took hundreds of years to build up to the conclusion of overt slavery in America • Some argue covert forms of slavery still exist today around the world • http://www.pbs.org/wnet/slavery/timeline/index.html
Slavery • At the debate’s height, thousands spoke out against slavery. Equally thousands spoke out as to why it is needed for the success of the nation. • Abolishing slavery became a focus. • To abolish • To put an end to something • An abolitionist • A person who favors the ending of a practice or institution (ex. slavery)
Abolitionist • The movement stalled many times along the way • Due to social concerns, economics, and politics • The institution of slavery had been going on for 25 centuries (prior to it coming to America), why would we change this now? • Wouldn’t ending slavery devastate the cotton economy of the South (and therefore, the manufacturing industry of the North)? • Who was going to be the politician that not only morally opposed slavery but PROPOSED a law to end slavery? • Risk losing their job (constituents may not vote him into office again) • Risk of life/death (lynched or attacked by southerners)
Abolitionist • The movement stalled even among the very people that wanted to end slavery… • Abolitionists splintered themselves about: • How to end slavery (state govt. or federal govt.)? • To what degree should slavery be stopped (partially, entirely, gradually, all at once)? • Who will take care of all these newly freed persons? • Where will they all go? • etc.
Abolitionists • The fight was long and messy • 1865 – Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery • 1868 – Fourteenth Amendment granted equal citizenship under the law to anyone born in the United States • 1870 – Fifteenth Amendment right to vote: black, adult males • 1960’s – Civil Rights movement • Equality in pay, jobs, education, etc. • Equal opportunity