Slavery and Racism in Early American History

SLAVERY AND RACISM IN EARLY AMERICAN HISTORY
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(May 14, 2012)
Slavery and Racism in Early American History
Introduction
Slavery and racism define a roadmap for the major struggles and activism contests in the American history. In fact, the history of conquest, slavery, and resistance in the shaping of early American history is very significant and focus on the social history of African-American slavery, political-economic and social history of resistance in the colonies and the greater United States of America, and the nature and cause of Native American genocide. Major battles have been fought by civil rights activists and politicians alike to ensure a democratic and free country; this elaborates the history which is part of an argument with the events of the past (Finkelman, 2006). These acts help to reflect on the present and shape the future in molding a better society. This is especially so because it is based on multiple perspectives and interpretations grounded upon a body of evidence. This paper critically discusses the issue of slavery and racism in early American history; this is based on the evidence given in historical books and key note addresses given by Abraham Lincoln on September 18, 1858 and Fredrick Douglas on July 5, 1852.
Question of slavery: Winthorp D Jordan's book, The white Man's Burden, discusses the origins of racism in the United States.
One will never talk of racism without understanding the era of slavery and slave trade; this is because the black race was believed to have been introduced to America through them. Racism is one thing that has troubled many a people in America for the longest time the grid of racism and ways if ridding off has been one which is a motivating factor for many political aspirants and been a debate in many sectors of the U.S. it is good to note that racism is part of human nature thus explaining the different colors. However, it is best to note that it the bad aspects of racism have been instigated by the society while in real sense, all races are the same irrespective of everything. Jordan (65) states that “many colonies made efforts in the first half of the eighteenth century to prevent too many Negroes from becoming free. In every colony, though there was a steady trickle of private manu-missions and in the southern colonies an occasional dramatic bestowal of freedom by the legislature upon a negro….”
The first is that racism is part of human nature that it's always existed and always will. The second is the liberal idea of racism--that it comes from people's bad ideas and that if we could change these ideas, we could get rid of it. It initially originated from the bourgeoisie in the capitalism environment and slave trade which went against any form of religion and philosophers to date cannot still comprehend considering the inhumane acts that were done to the inferior race (Jordan, 82). The ancient ages of the Greek a...