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| Siege Guns at Vicksburg |
I have always wondered why there is a different intense enthusiasm and historical reflection up North. The groups, the Sons and Daughters of the Confederacy, are alive and well south of the Mason-Dixie line. Although the groups the Sons and Daughters of the Union exist, they do not have the same level of devotion. This almost religious devotion to the South reveals the complexity of the Southern culture that continues to perplex me even to this day.
For many reasons, new monuments, named bridges, and historical reenactments honor this heritage. This Southern heritage is ingrained in them to believe it was a war for state rights. The fight for the preservation of Slavery is never discussed or mentioned. It is an ignored issue when white Southerners remember the war; it doesn't matter that without Slavery, the war would have never been fought.
The civil war was written into our constitution. It was predetermined to happen with our creation.
Slavery had a huge contribution to the creation of the United States. Without Slavery, our history would have resembled that of Canada or Australia. Sure, we are taught in school the start of the Revolution was a matter of taxation without representation. Sure, that might have started it in the North, but it was Slavery that drove the Southern colonies to finish it.
Key Facts and contemporary issues in Briton that led slave owners in America to be fearful of remaining part of the British Empire.
"Some of the first freedom suits, court cases in Britain to challenge the legality of Slavery, took place in Scotland in 1755 and 1769. The cases were Montgomery v. Sheddan (1755) and Spens v. Dalrymple (1769)."
1772: "Somerset v Stewart (1772), a famous judgment of the English Court of King's Bench in 1772, which held that chattel Slavery was unsupported by the common law in England and Wales, although the position elsewhere in the British Empire was left ambiguous. Lord Mansfield decided that: The state of Slavery is of such a nature that it is incapable of being introduced on any reasons, moral or political, but only by positive law [statute], which preserves its force long after the reasons, occasions, and time itself from whence it was created, is erased from memory. It is so odious that nothing but positive law can be suffered to support it. Whatever inconveniences, therefore, may follow from the decision, I cannot say this case is allowed or approved by the law of England; therefore, the black must be discharged."
The handwriting was on the wall; American plantation owners could no longer travel to Briton with their slaves for fear of them being freed upon arrival. The Slave Trade was outlawed in the British Empire in 1807. Then Slavery was completely done away with in 1833. These actions created anxiety for all the slave owners in the Americas. Blacks in England continued to progress in social standing in the 18th century. All the while, this was being observed by the American plantation owners.
Almost all the major players in the Revolution were rich plantation slave owners. Big Plantations were the corporations of the day. During this time, there was a movement throughout the British Empire to outlaw Slavery. This was an immense motivation for the southern planters to aid the Boston Revolutionaries and dissolve the ties with the British Empire.
Although Slavery was an abomination that stains American history. There were positive unintentional consequences. I have asked my black friends if they would change their social position in America, for example, in Africa, as if there was never any slave trade. They always respond with I love America and would never leave.
The black population has brought great cultural diversity to America and has strengthened the nation. We have elected a black president; there is now nothing off-limits to blacks in America. Sure, there is still a form of white privilege throughout America that should not be downplayed, but with continued cultural awareness, this will fall by the wayside.
Living in the South is an exciting time. Less than 2 generations removed from legal segregation, you can feel the South changing for the better. The South has again become the economic center of the nation. The recent problems in the news are nothing more than growing pains that will improve things.
Slavery had a huge contribution to the creation of the United States. Without Slavery, our history would have resembled that of Canada or Australia. Sure, we are taught in school the start of the Revolution was a matter of taxation without representation. Sure, that might have started it in the North, but it was Slavery that drove the Southern colonies to finish it.
Key Facts and contemporary issues in Briton that led slave owners in America to be fearful of remaining part of the British Empire.
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| Sumner County Court House |
1772: "Somerset v Stewart (1772), a famous judgment of the English Court of King's Bench in 1772, which held that chattel Slavery was unsupported by the common law in England and Wales, although the position elsewhere in the British Empire was left ambiguous. Lord Mansfield decided that: The state of Slavery is of such a nature that it is incapable of being introduced on any reasons, moral or political, but only by positive law [statute], which preserves its force long after the reasons, occasions, and time itself from whence it was created, is erased from memory. It is so odious that nothing but positive law can be suffered to support it. Whatever inconveniences, therefore, may follow from the decision, I cannot say this case is allowed or approved by the law of England; therefore, the black must be discharged."
The handwriting was on the wall; American plantation owners could no longer travel to Briton with their slaves for fear of them being freed upon arrival. The Slave Trade was outlawed in the British Empire in 1807. Then Slavery was completely done away with in 1833. These actions created anxiety for all the slave owners in the Americas. Blacks in England continued to progress in social standing in the 18th century. All the while, this was being observed by the American plantation owners.
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| Confederate Monument |
Although Slavery was an abomination that stains American history. There were positive unintentional consequences. I have asked my black friends if they would change their social position in America, for example, in Africa, as if there was never any slave trade. They always respond with I love America and would never leave.
The black population has brought great cultural diversity to America and has strengthened the nation. We have elected a black president; there is now nothing off-limits to blacks in America. Sure, there is still a form of white privilege throughout America that should not be downplayed, but with continued cultural awareness, this will fall by the wayside.
Living in the South is an exciting time. Less than 2 generations removed from legal segregation, you can feel the South changing for the better. The South has again become the economic center of the nation. The recent problems in the news are nothing more than growing pains that will improve things.
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