How did both continued enslavement and the end of slavery pose a problem for the concept of liberty in revolutionary America? Give at least one or two specific examples for both sides of this debate.
In Revolutionary America, both continued enslavement and the end of slavery posed significant challenges to the concept of liberty. The contradiction between the ideals of liberty proclaimed during the American Revolution and the ongoing practice of slavery exposed the inherent hypocrisy of the young nation.
1. Continued enslavement and the problem of liberty:
One specific example of how continued enslavement posed a problem for the concept of liberty was the case of the enslaved population. Despite the rhetoric of freedom and individual liberty that permeated the American Revolution, an estimated 20% of the population in the American colonies were enslaved Africans or African Americans. This contradiction raised questions about the true meaning of liberty for all individuals within the new nation. The enslavement of a portion of society undermined the core principle of equality upon which the revolutionary ideals were founded.
Another example is the limited rights and agency of enslaved individuals. They were deprived of personal autonomy, owned as property, and subjected to brutal treatment. Despite their inherent humanity, they were denied the fundamental liberties enjoyed by free individuals. This contradiction lays bare the hypocrisy of a society that purported to champion liberty but denied it to a significant portion of its population.
2. The end of slavery and the problem of liberty:
Once the Revolutionary War concluded, the newly formed United States faced the challenge of reconciling the concept of liberty with the institution of slavery that persisted in much of the country. Even as some Northern states took steps to emancipate the enslaved population, the institution continued to be entrenched in the Southern states. This created tensions between the ideals of liberty and the economic interests of those who benefited from slavery.
Another example is the inherent contradiction in the Constitution. While it espoused principles of equality and liberty, it also protected the institution of slavery. The Three-Fifths Compromise, for instance, treated enslaved individuals as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of determining representation in Congress, highlighting how the concept of liberty was subverted for political and economic purposes.
Overall, the continued enslavement of a significant portion of the population and the subsequent struggles to end slavery revealed the complex and often contradictory nature of liberty in revolutionary America. It was a challenge to reconcile the ideals of freedom with the realities of a society that perpetuated human bondage.