Race and Revolution, Gary B. Nash, Book Review Example

Author Biography and Introduction to His Works

We are often taught in high school that colonial society was somehow ignorant of the horrors of slavery, and that slaves themselves were too ignorant to know anything else. This complete falsehood is addressed in Gary Nash’s book Race and Revolution. The book tells much of the truth about slavery during the American Revolution. Nash shows that Americans lost their desire to constitutionally free slaved African Americans. Perhaps much of this blame is to be laid upon Northern leaders. Nash further addresses how the slaves responded to the hostile whites who refused to accept them as equals in their role in the new Republic. Throughout the book these excerpts and opinions are presented as essays which grew out of the Merrill Jensen Lectures in Constitutional Studies presented at the University of Wisconsin in 1988.

Summary of Contents of Book

Race and Revolution by Nash addresses an issue that has beleaguered American society, both politically and socially almost since the first colonists arrived four hundred years ago. Slavery has been an eccentric topic of discussion in many realms of life for decades. Most Americans focus on the Revolutionary period when addressing slavery and further the antebellum, civil war and reconstruction period because we are taught that in institutions of higher learning. “Nash instead focuses on the decade leading up to and the decades following the revolutionary war.” (Berryman, 2009). Was it the Northerner’s who has less interest in the slaves because they were not tied to their labour force who promote the institution of slavery; or was it the political leaders who fought so diligently to bring the colonies away from the British reign? In the second essay Nash discusses his perceived reasons for failure of the abolitionist movement at a time when it was most evident that success would occur. A central focus of his attack is to whom the blame can be bestowed upon for the sudden decline in anti-slavery attitude. Was it the south, with their dire need of the forced labour for the cultivation of crops, their primary source of revenue? The economic challenge was of course how to compensate the slave owners if they were forced to give up their property and what would the economic impact of emancipation be to the northern colonies. Since they were legally obtained, slaves were personal property and in the documents of freedom just written, how could the government take personal property without compensation.

It is seen throughout the book that the North did not seize the opportunity in many instances to create a dominant plan to free the slaves. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” from our Declaration of Independence would come to haunt us because it would be quite hypocritical that we would demand such this of Great Britain yet enslave our own people. (Pearson, 2009).   In the third and final essay of Race and Revolution Nash discusses the African-American’s role in abolitionist movement of the time. He mentions many prominent freed men of the era and the strides they made to establish black churches and other communities whilst promoting the agenda of abolition and emancipation to the governments especially at a national level. Finally the last part, more than fifty percent of  the book, is devoted to historical essays, articles and other documents that aid in bringing the three essays to light.

Body of Review

It was through the American Revolution that it was recognized that there was an apparent incompatibility between the slave labour system, whether between the slave owners or slave traders and the principles that underlie the struggle of England with the creation of a new and upcoming nation. History often ignores the upcoming anti-slavery impulse during the American Revolution. Historians were more concerned about the creation of a political system created on republic principles rather than looking at issues of slavery. Max Farrand, historian even excused the nation’s leaders for failing to abolish slavery. His documentary record of the founding fathers was standard reading for over two generations. Historians explained that the failure of the south to abolish slavery was based on the ideal that the political union was quite shaky after the war. Other historians emerged with query that Georgia and the Carolina’s may have refused to join the union if the South had been forced to abolish slavery during that time. Further failure to achieve union might have brought about a ‘war of the races or frightful oppression of the slaves’ which would have been more detrimental to the slaves.

“The first federal census reported that nearly 293,000 slaves resided in Virginia which accounted for a 250% increase since 1755 and further thousands of slaves retreated to Britain during the Revolution and to the North after the war including the sale of slaves southward in the 1780’s.” (Nash, 1990). The question is why was slavery abolition protected for so long through the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and moreover for over twenty years? “It is singled out by politicalists that the political union of the northern and southern states was the stumbling block to the abolition of slavery.” (Nash, 1990). Hamilton wrote in the Federalist Paper No. 85 “a nation without a national government is an awful spectacle.” (Nash, 1990). Slavery further support the equality rights of mankind and habituates us to tyranny and oppression as afforded our Constitutional Rights.

The northern states eventually began to ban the importation of slaves as did most of the Southern states and they further began to free most of the slaves in bondage within their boundaries around the 1840’s. Much hypocrisy involving slavery and freedom of slaves still existed including Benjamin Rush, philanthropic doctor, who purchased a slave, William Grubber whilst in 1783 while still holding Grubber in his possession as an indentured servant he joined the Pennsylvania Abolition Society in 1784 and refused to release Grubber from slavery. It is noted whether Rush was aware of the hypocrisy of the purchase of his slave, Grubber or whether he has manipulative reasons for joining the abolition society.

Just three years later in 1787, Rush had a remarkably disturbing dream as a result of reading Thomas Clarkson’s Essay on the Slavery and Commerce on the Human Species which was inspired by Benezet’s Historical Account of Guinea. In his dream Rush found himself standing on a beautiful sandy shore with Africans practising religious services. At the site of the white man, Rush, the African’s went into panic and began to tell stories to the others of their experiences with slavery and how their homes were stolen by the white man. This dream inspired “guilt” in Rush and from then forward he began to “support the abolition of slavery”. He further began to throw himself with admiration and passion towards the Pennsylvania Abolition Society through helping to write its Constitution in 1787 and serving as the Secretary. Despite his guilt and proactive stance with the Abolition Society he held his slave Grubber for seven long further years.

Post-1830 abolition proposed a tax to all slave owners for compensated emancipation of slaves. Governor Morris representing Pennsylvania at the Constitutional Convention “proposed such a compensation to pay for all the Negroes in the United States rather than to legitimate slavery.” (Nash, 1990). The anticipated tax would cost the government approximately $90 million dollars at as rate of $150 per slave times 600,000 slaves.

“The government proposed an alternate source of funding from the western lands provided an inexhaustible funding to promote a stronger government”, writes Peter Onuf. (Nash, 1990). The speculation was that as the population continued to grow through Tennessee and Ohio there would be a contribution towards emancipation of the slaves. A harmony between the North and the South was essential to promote the emancipation of the slaves through western land funding. At this point, the Congress prohibited bringing slaves into the Northwest territory and the South actually supported this stance.

In 1790 during the second session of the first Congress, the North was given the opportunity to act on the slavery issue. “The Mid-Atlantic Quakers and the Pennsylvania Abolition Society petitioned Congress on February 11^th and 12^th to implore it’s powers as implied in the Preamble of the Constitution to ‘extend the blessings of liberty without regard to colour to all descriptions of people.’” (Nash, 1990).  Further the Petition of the Society of Friends pointed out the inhumane and tyrannous nature of slavery. The Quakers asked for remedy against the inhumane nature against the trafficking of people. The Pennsylvania Abolition Society vehemently used its powers to ask Congress to further destroy slavery completely. South Carolina’s representative implied that this petition, if approved would tear the nation apart. “Representative James Jackson of Georgia stated that if the petition was taken seriously it would ‘absolutely blow the trumpet of civil war’”. (Nash, 1990). However by a vote of 43 to 11 a committee was established through the support of Maryland and Virginia. The crucial elements involving the decision by the committee to abolish system involved the private petitions from the Quakers and the Pennsylvania Abolition Society and the “powers of Congress to regulate slavery”.

Six years later in 1796 St. George Tucker, prominent lawyer and office holder from Virginia took hold of what had transpired of the first Continental Congress. Tucker made a new plan and brought it before the legislature. Two important issues at hand were the 1790 federal census result and the political explosion that happened in the Caribbean following the 1790 census. There was an apparent increase in the sale of slaves after the 1780’s. Enslaved slave population was now up to 50%. Tucker planned to make his appeal based on the fact that the institution of slavery was incompatible with a republican government. A revolution had broken out on the French Caribbean Island spiralling violence. Tucker began to look to Montesquieu Spirit of Laws “Slavery violates Laws of Nature, laws of civil Society, it wounds the best Forms of Government; in a Democracy, where all Men are equal; Slavery is Contrary to the Spirit of the Constitution” (Nash, 1990). Tucker further employed the people to excuse the wrong doings of previous men but now that we are in a different society we must remove the stigma of slavery in order to uphold the principles of government upon which our nation was founded. He reminded the people that the practise of slavery is a disgrace and to tolerate such a practise is a national disgrace.

In 1800 Philadelphia’s black residents petitioned Congress to abolish slavery, a repeal of the Fugitive Slave Act 1793. There was an exclusion clause in the Articles of Confederation which was an inter colonial provision for the return of any and all slaves that may have escaped. Their driving force leaned on the inalienable rights of all citizens as afforded by the Preamble of the Constitution. Gabriel Prosser, a free slave in Virginia organized an attempt to overthrow slavery in the southern states. He worked as a blacksmith and was give more autonomy than other slaves of the time. Gabriel and approximately 1,000 slaves began a secret plan to overthrow the slave owners “targeted at the Federalists and merchants who were of the most prominent members in society at the time.” (“Gabrielle’s Rebellion: Another View of Virginia in 1800”). However the assault which was planned for August 30, 1800 never was employed because rain came and the white owners were warned about the attack. This plan shows how the slaves began an up rise against their unlawful imprisonment.

Denmark Vesey purchased his freedom from the French Caribbean and plotted a slave rebellion in 1822. He was inspired by fury of the closing of an African church and planned his rebellion on Bastille Day, July 14, 1822. He and black slaves promoted a plan to take over the city of Charleston, South Carolina then sail to Haiti to escape for their forever freedom. The plan instead failed and Vesey and other members were arrested prior to the commencement of the attack. Further they were tried, convicted and put to death as a result of the conviction.

Nat Turner’s Slave Rebellion in 1851 however was able to take force in Southampton County, Virginia. Over 50 white people were killed in the well orchestrated rebellion one of the highest fatalities by a slave orchestrated rebellion of the time. As a result, legislation was passed prohibiting slaves from being educated; restricting rights of assembly and requiring the presence of white ministers at all black religious services. Many blacks were killed in the rebellion fighting for their cause. The rebellion only lasted for a few days before Turner survived for several months while in hiding after the rebellion was long distinguished. This rebellion laid landmark in the memories of white protagonists and slave owners.

Slavery was formerly abolished on December 18, 1865 after the election of President Abraham Lincoln in November, 1860. The Civil War commenced in 1861 shortly after Lincoln’s inauguration. “Four further Southern states joined the confederacy and four border slave states remained in the Union.”  (“Slavery Abolished in America”). Fugitive slaved laws were annulled by Congress in 1862 which prohibited slavery acts in the United States territories and further employing Lincoln to employ slaves within the US Army. On January 1, 1863, Lincoln issued his intent to issue an Emancipation Proclamation “calling on the Union army to liberate all slaves in states still in rebellion as “an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon military necessity.” (“Slavery Abolished in America”). Over three million slaves would from then on be free, exclusionary of the Border States slaves that were part of the Union and three Confederate states that were still under control of said Union. As stated in Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address in 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation would be a “new birth of freedom” transformation for the Civil War. The 13^th Amendment was introduced to Congress and on April 1864 by the necessary two-thirds vote the Republican Senate passed the Amendment in January 1865. It is interestingly historical to present that this was three months before the surrender of Robert E. Lee at the Appomattox. “On December 2, 1865, Alabama became the 27th state to ratify the 13th Amendment, thus giving it the requisite three-fourths majority of states’ approval necessary to make it the law of the land.” (“Slavery Abolished in America”). Without this ratification Alabama would not have been given re-admission to the union, hence it was a forced ratification. Through 246 years since the first landing of captive Africans at Jamestown, Virginia and trials and tribulations of indentured servitude; through perilous disadvantages, now the slaves were finally free on December 18^th by virtue of the 13^th Amendment. Did this freedom come by way of virtuous fighting for freedom through various rebellions, because of the pressure of the war or was it because of the reign of Lincoln that put pressure on Congress to pass the 13^th Amendment?

Conclusion of the Book

Nash reiterates throughout his book that many of the people who supported the freedom of slaves were in fact slave owners themselves and hypocritically refused to free their own slaves as seen with philanthropic doctor, Benjamin Rush and Allison. Allison actually passed the rights of his slaves to his heirs upon his death bed. Two prominent issues vexed the political and social communities of how the slave owners would be compensated for the release of their slaves and how slaves would be able to economically survive after freedom from their owners. Prominent influence was the anticipated pull-out of the newly formed union by South Carolina and Georgia if slaves were given their freedom. Historical documents are presented to support this theory. The Revolutionary Generation support of the abolition of slavery is supported separately in Nash’s four separate essays in his book. Pennsylvania has been recorded in history as the leading state on the abolition of slavery dated 1780. Jupiter Hammon, James Forten, Prince Hall, and Richard Allen established themselves as leaders in a white dominated community through the passage of black churches and social clubs. Finally Nash looks at how the African slaves identified themselves with the Israeli slaves of Egypt through Moses leading the children of Israel out of enslavement. “Go down Moses, Go down to Egypt land, Go tell the Pharaoh, let my People go.”  This is the classical biblical story of Exodus. The surface message is a longing for heaven. The secondary meaning is a theme longing for freedom.