The Development of the Concept of “Freedom” Between the Years 1763 And 1824
Marquis de Lafayette, commonly known as just Lafayette, was a French and American military officer and aristocrat who participated in the American Revolution as a general. He also served as an Estates General and subsequently in the National Constituent Assembly in the early years of the French Revolution. Lafayette was associated with a famous quote that states, “I would never have drawn my sword in the cause of America, if I could have conceived that thereby I was founding a land of slavery.” What provoked him to make such a statement is that he was fighting for freedom, but the America that emerged during his time widely embraced the slavery institution. The primary aim of this paper is to discuss and analyze the development of the concept of freedom between 1763 and 1824.
Slavery was among the most important institutions in America during the 17th and 18th centuries. The first African slaves landed on the American soil in 1619 in the North American colony of Jamestown. During that time, slavery was not codified into law, and as such, the slaves enjoyed freedom(Berlin, …show more content…
Slaves were initially free but their freedoms were curtailed in the course of time(Berlin, 2009). The rights of slaves were delimited with the abolishment of the servitude indenture system. However, efforts to fight for the rights of slaves were reintroduced by abolists and various civil rights movements that sought to abolish racial slavery. The increased highlight of the concept of freedom fueled the America civil war that lasted between 1864 and 1865. The abolists gained victory, and as a result, more than more than 4 million slaves were released. The legacy of slavery continued to influence the American history with its influence deepening during the tumultuous years of
Marquis de Lafayette, commonly known as just Lafayette, was a French and American military officer and aristocrat who participated in the American Revolution as a general. He also served as an Estates General and subsequently in the National Constituent Assembly in the early years of the French Revolution. Lafayette was associated with a famous quote that states, “I would never have drawn my sword in the cause of America, if I could have conceived that thereby I was founding a land of slavery.” What provoked him to make such a statement is that he was fighting for freedom, but the America that emerged during his time widely embraced the slavery institution. The primary aim of this paper is to discuss and analyze the development of the concept of freedom between 1763 and 1824.
Slavery was among the most important institutions in America during the 17th and 18th centuries. The first African slaves landed on the American soil in 1619 in the North American colony of Jamestown. During that time, slavery was not codified into law, and as such, the slaves enjoyed freedom(Berlin, …show more content…
Slaves were initially free but their freedoms were curtailed in the course of time(Berlin, 2009). The rights of slaves were delimited with the abolishment of the servitude indenture system. However, efforts to fight for the rights of slaves were reintroduced by abolists and various civil rights movements that sought to abolish racial slavery. The increased highlight of the concept of freedom fueled the America civil war that lasted between 1864 and 1865. The abolists gained victory, and as a result, more than more than 4 million slaves were released. The legacy of slavery continued to influence the American history with its influence deepening during the tumultuous years of