[Dominick]

Originally Posted by Rasterburn [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

It must seem abhorrent to you and me, living here in the 21st century. But how do you know what your feelings would be, if we were living way back in the year 1749..? Hell... you might even own a few slaves of your own.

I never liked this argument.

The founders were pretty divided.

In the 18th century (1700s) Slavery was a heated topic that threatened to end the Revolution before it started. There was progress thought, the Atlantic slave trade was outlawed in 1808. Most Northern states passed emancipation, and there were free blacks in the north until the second Fugitive Slave act of 1850 made it moot. Most European nations by the start of the 19th century already outlawed slavery.

You can see the roots of the compromises of the 19th century and the Civil war in the controversy over slavery. Most history books down play the Whig party being unwilling to take on slavery before the Civil war, and that the Democratic Party of the 19th century was the political promoter of slavery. The Republican Party was formed by the Whigs who were abolitionists.

So my feelings would be no different, all men are created equal, and endowed by God with their rights; I would have a lot of company in the US and most of Europe.