Slavery and Politics in the Early American Republic

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Univ of North Carolina Press, Jan 5, 2009 - Social Science - 352 pages
Giving close consideration to previously neglected debates, Matthew Mason challenges the common contention that slavery held little political significance in America until the Missouri Crisis of 1819. Mason demonstrates that slavery and politics were enmeshed in the creation of the nation, and in fact there was never a time between the Revolution and the Civil War in which slavery went uncontested.

The American Revolution set in motion the split between slave states and free states, but Mason explains that the divide took on greater importance in the early nineteenth century. He examines the partisan and geopolitical uses of slavery, the conflicts between free states and their slaveholding neighbors, and the political impact of African Americans across the country.

Offering a full picture of the politics of slavery in the crucial years of the early republic, Mason demonstrates that partisans and patriots, slave and free--and not just abolitionists and advocates of slavery--should be considered important players in the politics of slavery in the United States.



 

Contents

INTRODUCTION
1
1 Slavery and Politics to 1808
9
2 Federalists Republicans and Slavery during the War of 1812
42
3 Slavery and Partisan Conflict during the Era of Good Feelings
75
4 Slavery in AngloAmerican Relations
87
5 The Political Impact of African Americans
106
6 Defending against Slavery
130
7 Defending Slavery
158
The Missouri Crisis
177
9 Antebellum Legacies
213
NOTES
239
BIBLIOGRAPHY
305
INDEX
331
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Page 306 - The Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, and for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully held in Bondage, and for Improving the Condition of the African Race," incorporated by Act of Assembly passed the 8th day of December, AD 1789, of which Dr.
Page 308 - Free remarks on the spirit of the federal constitution, the practice of the federal government, and the obligations of the union, respecting the exclusion of slavery from the territories and new states.
Page 307 - The Olive Branch: or, Faults on Both Sides, Federal and Democratic. A Serious Appeal on the Necessity of Mutual Forgiveness and Harmony, to Save our Common Country from Ruin. Philadelphia: M. Carey, 1814. 252 pages 121110. "Defends the alien and sedition laws and abuses Jefferson for his mistakes."— WINSOR.

About the author (2009)

Matthew Mason is assistant professor of history at Brigham Young University. He is coeditor of The History of the Life and Adventures of Mr. Anderson, by Edward Kimber.

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