If you were watching the News, then you heard Kamala Harris state that, "We have had slavery in the United States for over 200 years". When it was said, the interviewer seemed to have accepted her statement as "true". This blog will try to clarify the point.
First off, there was not a United States until the constitution was ratified in 1790. Up to that time the colonies were run by the King of England. It was under the control of the King of England that the African slaves were imported into the "colonies". Most of the founders of the USA and signors to the constitution thought that slavery was wrong, but at the time of the signing they went along with 6 of the 13 states continuing to own slaves. They did this because at the time of signing, the USA was too weak to risk an additional conflict among themselves over slavery.
The founders went one step further and agreed that from this point on, the situation would not be made worse by the importation of additional slaves. That means that no slaves were legally imported into the USA after 1790. Most of the slaves in the New World were, in fact, in countries in South and Central America as well as the Caribbean not the USA.
As states were added, the founders made sure that no more than half the states had slaves. This lead to the famous Missouri Compromise, which meant that Missouri had to "give up" their slaves so that Texas could be admitted as a slave state. Few also know that many Native Americans were sold as slaves and some Native Americans actually owned African slaves as well.
It was not until the Civil War that the salves were freed by Abraham Lincoln, who was also the very first Republican President. That was in 1865. Now with a little arithmetic, that works out to the USA having slaves in less than 50% of our states for "75 years". That is a little less than what Kamala Harris stated.
I personally feel that slavery was one of the worst things that the human race and world ever came up with, but do not blame the USA for the problem. It was a dark part of human history and the USA was part of the history that eliminated it! We should remember that and be proud, not ashamed. If it could have been done sooner, I think that our founders would have done it, but it is clear that it could not have been. The USA did not create the problem, the USA solved the problem. What we need to do is to stop crying over spilled milk and "all of us" get on with life.
First off, there was not a United States until the constitution was ratified in 1790. Up to that time the colonies were run by the King of England. It was under the control of the King of England that the African slaves were imported into the "colonies". Most of the founders of the USA and signors to the constitution thought that slavery was wrong, but at the time of the signing they went along with 6 of the 13 states continuing to own slaves. They did this because at the time of signing, the USA was too weak to risk an additional conflict among themselves over slavery.
The founders went one step further and agreed that from this point on, the situation would not be made worse by the importation of additional slaves. That means that no slaves were legally imported into the USA after 1790. Most of the slaves in the New World were, in fact, in countries in South and Central America as well as the Caribbean not the USA.
As states were added, the founders made sure that no more than half the states had slaves. This lead to the famous Missouri Compromise, which meant that Missouri had to "give up" their slaves so that Texas could be admitted as a slave state. Few also know that many Native Americans were sold as slaves and some Native Americans actually owned African slaves as well.
It was not until the Civil War that the salves were freed by Abraham Lincoln, who was also the very first Republican President. That was in 1865. Now with a little arithmetic, that works out to the USA having slaves in less than 50% of our states for "75 years". That is a little less than what Kamala Harris stated.
I personally feel that slavery was one of the worst things that the human race and world ever came up with, but do not blame the USA for the problem. It was a dark part of human history and the USA was part of the history that eliminated it! We should remember that and be proud, not ashamed. If it could have been done sooner, I think that our founders would have done it, but it is clear that it could not have been. The USA did not create the problem, the USA solved the problem. What we need to do is to stop crying over spilled milk and "all of us" get on with life.
