http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/pam-mazanac-us-ended-slavery-voluntarily
Here is part of the offending post:
“Yes, we practiced slavery. But we also ended it voluntarily, at great sacrifice, while the practice continues in many countries still today! Shouldn’t our students be provided that viewpoint? This is part of the argument that America is exceptional. Does our APUSH Framework support or denigrate that position?”
From this, we see exactly the sort of problems that a rigorous history course that develops critical thinking skills should address.
First, we see the simplistic use of “we”. What do you mean “we”, white man? “We” didn’t voluntarily do jackshit. “We” fought each other tooth and nail for four years. When Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, desertions increased (especially among draftees), because Northerners weren’t necessarily interested in dying for slaves. The debate over the 13th Amendment – capably captured in Lincoln – shows just involuntary the ending of slavery was.
We do teach the angry, acrimonious debate over slavery. We examine Frederick Douglass and Roger Taney, Daniel Webster and John Calhoun, Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis, because it is in examining these differences that we understand the true issues that undergird all the arguments about slavery.
And once those slaves were free, we argued incessantly – for a hundred years – over what we would allow freedom to mean for African Americans. We warped and perverted the 14th Amendment in order to revivify the primacy of the white race. We gave the Freedman a sky for a roof and a shred of ignored law for a coat. And we refashioned chains from debt peonage, chains that ensnared not a few poor whites, as well.
To deny that is to deny the truth of our history. Perhaps Ms. Mazanec should take AP US?
At least the students in Colorado seem to understand this, even if the “adults” do not.
Nailed it.
Simpler in my day before all the denialists, apologists, and revisionists got really going with their “war between the states” nonsense. Learning how slavery was ended wasn’t limited to students in AP history classes.
Also, exceptional in that America voluntarily ended slavery?
How about Britain that voluntarily ended slavery BEFORE the USA? And maintained an embargo on the slave trade by other countries via the British Navy? THAT, I think was exceptional.
As a history teacher, what can you tell us about the end of slavery in France and Spain?
Not quite as clean as that. Indentured servitude in British colonies was reprised. Conditions during the period of servitude were horrible and the death rate on sugar and tobacco plantations were high.
Yes, but they did free the outright slaves. remember that indentured servants, in legal theory, are in voluntary bondage.
And the British Navy maintained an Africa squadron that patrolled West Africa, sinking, and seizing slave traders (mostly American). The British Captains did get prize money for capturing the ships. Slaves were set free, but often hundreds of miles from home (closest shore). I think it’s better than what we did. Although the Africa Squadron did provide live combat training for the Fleet.
Except early in the history of this country and Caribbean sugar plantations at that time, “voluntary” was more often than not involuntary. Not sure it was all that different in the 19th century when indentured servants from India and other UK colonies migrated west.
Could be. Still, England did more to abolish slavery, earlier and carried the fight outside their own borders (although part of it was British Imperial arrogance).