American History

» Brian Tubbs - Linda Grimes' article

Dr. Grimes wrote an excellent piece on the myth associated with the 3/5 compromise. I encourage everyone to read it. The Founding Fathers did NOT view people of African descent as being 3/5 of a person. That is one of the biggest lies of history, and it's shameful that it's persisted so long.

The only correction I would make is that Dr. Grimes asserts that the framers of the Constitution owned slaves. The way she writes that makes it sound that all of them did. I know that's NOT what she meant, but I just want to point out for the record that - in fact - NOT all the framers of the Constitution owned slaves. Many, including some of the preeminent framers like Ben Franklin and Alexander Hamilton did NOT own slaves - and, in fact, were early abolitionists.

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» Linda Sue Grimes - Linda Grimes' article

In response to Linda Grimes' article posted by BrianTubbs:

I'd like to thank Brian for his kind remarks responding to my article, and also for pointing out my error. Of course, only those with plantations owned slaves.

Blessings,
Linda Sue Grimes
Poetry Feature Writer

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» pink101 - I'm No Expert

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I'm no expert on slavery; but, I do know that it was primarily an integral part of the Economic Institution of the states that attempted to secede from the Union. Francis Scott Key, the author of The Star Spangled Banner which became our National Anthem, owned many slaves--hundreds I think.
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It was an evil practise; but, the Southrons believed that it was strictly ordered by God from their biblicist perspective. They were able to quote chapter and verse in support of it. Even several of our Founding Fathers owned human beings.
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In retrospect, it seems about as evil a practise as can be imagined.
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-- posted by pink101

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» Brian Tubbs - I'm No Expert

In response to I'm No Expert posted by pink101:

Not all southerners owned slaves. In fact, a small minority did. I'm not a "southron" (as you put it). But I also don't believe anyone should one-dimensionalize the South or even the Civil War era South.

As for slavery being evil, few would dispute that now. The point of Linda's article is that the Founders did more AGAINST slavery than they are given credit for. The Founding Fathers did NOT create or institute slavery. They inherited the institution. And then they took action, as Lincoln would later say, to put it (slavery) on the "course of ultimate extinction."

Sadly...slavery still exists today in different parts of the world.

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