Not so sure the British Parliament was inclined to the abolition of slavery in the 1760s
and 1770s. After all, it blocked an attempt by Virginia's colonial legislature to block the
importation of slaves into the colony in the 1760s (TJ tried to note that fact in The
Declaration). Slavery was ended in Britain by a 1773 court case, not an act of Parliament.
But certainly by the 1830s and 1840s the planters were concerned that the British would get
the Texas territory and close it off to slaveholders.
Jim Hershman
"Harold S. Forsythe" wrote:
> Paul and All,
>
> I think Paul is correct on this. The very power of Parliament to
> repeal all acts supporting slavery, both acts of Parliament and acts
> of colonial agencies (legislatures?), was the great fear of the
> plantocracy in the 18th century; a fear reduxed in the controversy
> over the commerce clause in the era of Gibbons v. Ogden in the
> 1820s, and upon "black Republican" Lincoln's election to the
> Presidency.
>
> Date sent: Mon, 06 Aug 2001 08:30:15 -0500
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Teaching Slaves to Read
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Send reply to: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history
> <[log in to unmask]>
>
> > I am late coming to this discussion, and have been out of the office for a
> > while, but it seems to me you could make a strong argument that from the
> > perspective of slaves, the wrong side one the REvolution and that freedom
> > would have come earlier (1830s) and easier if the British had retained the
> > colonies. THis assumes all other historical events, including imperial
> > emancipation happen as they did.
> I remember Gary Nash giving a lecture on the Revolution during the Bicentennial. He
> said that blacks and Native Americans opposed the Revolution for revolutionary reasons.
> This, a rather nice summary of the idea that a British victory over
> the "settlers," meant greater freedom and opportunity for the
> "natives."
>
> >
> > Paul Finkelman
> > Univ. of Tulsa College of Law
> >
> > Quoting "Harold S. Forsythe" <[log in to unmask]>:
> >
> > > I find Kevin Phillips to be the only contemporary political
> > > journalist/commentator
> > > who seems to know or care much about history. I do not always agree
> > > with him, and certainly he is no archival scholar, but he seems quite
> > > well read.
> > > To the point of American independence being good for slavery:
> > > CERTAINLY! In 1772 Lord Mansfield in Somerset's Case, ruled
> > > that slavery must be supported by positive legislation, because the
> > > status was not supported in common law (here I am summarizing from
> > > memory.) Given that Parliament at that very moment was involved in a
> > > contentious controversy with the Colonies about which legislature,
> > > Commons and Lords, or say the House of Burgesses, had real legislative
> > > authority in Virginia, the move toward independence clearly put
> > > authority over slavery into the hands of the Gov't of Virginia, not in
> > > London.
> > >
> > >
> > > Date sent: Thu, 02 Aug 2001 11:08:10 -0400
> > > From: Deane <[log in to unmask]>
> > > Subject: Re: Teaching Slaves to Read
> > > To: [log in to unmask]
> > > Send reply to: Discussion of research and writing about
> > > Virginia history
> > > <[log in to unmask]>
> > >
> > > > With all due respect, Kevin Phillips does not and never has impressed
> > > me
> > > > as much of an historian. He is more of a 'retrospective speculator'.
> > > It is
> > > > difficult for me to take his thoughts and ideas too seriously.
> > > Sincerely,
> > > > Deane Mills York County Virginia Subject: Re: Teaching Slaves to Read
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > A related question comes to mind: To what extent did the
> > > > > American
> > > > > Revolution "liberate" the American colonies from Britain's
> > > increasing
> > > > > anti-slavery measures and perhaps contribute to the establishment
> > > of
> > > > > more stringent slavery regulations in the American South, of which
> > > > > restrictions on education are just one? In his recent book, "The
> > > > > Cousins' Wars", Kevin Phillips seems to suggest that was the case.
> > > > > :-) Bob Shriner
> > > > >
> > > > > >From: Loretta Kelldorf <[log in to unmask]>
> > > > > >Subject: Re: Teaching Slaves To Read
> > > > > >
> > > > > >Would there be a distinct difference in those laws affecting the
> > > =
> > > > > >education of Negroes before 1831 and those laws beginning in 1831
> > > and
> > > > > >= later? I am thinking of the Nathaniel Turner massacre in
> > > Southampton
> > > > > >VA
> > > > =
> > > > > > was in 1831, which event contributed to changed attitudes and laws
> > > =
> > > > > >affecting the black people.=20
> > > > >
> > > > > To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the
> > > > > instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
> > > >
> > > > To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the
> > > instructions
> > > > at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
> > >
> > >
> > > Harold S. Forsythe
> > > Assistant Professor History
> > > Director: Black Studies
> > > Fairfield University
> > > Fairfield, CT 06430-5195
> > > (203) 254-4000 x2379
> > >
> > > To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the
> > > instructions
> > > at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
> > >
> >
> > To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions
> > at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
>
> Harold S. Forsythe
> Assistant Professor History
> Director: Black Studies
> Fairfield University
> Fairfield, CT 06430-5195
> (203) 254-4000 x2379
>
> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions
> at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions
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