Slave trade was crucial to the colonialists during the colonial times. It supplied slaves that provided manpower to their farms. Despite its essence, African slaves were not many. Majority of the colonial masters had not agreed on enslaving Africans because they related them with the indentured white servants that were residing in the southern colonies. However, the demand for more manpower due to advancement in agricultural activities made the colonialists reconsider having blacks working for them; they started enslaving Africans. “Just as in Africa, the trafficking of slaves also increased in America because of increase in demand for more laborers” (Parker 166).
Various factors contributed to the advancement of slavery and liberty in the 17th and 18th centuries. Some of the factors that led to the advancement of slavery include the participation of the natives in the capturing of the slaves and the possession of sophisticated weapons by the Europeans. For instance, the Chickasaw, Savannah and other native groups embarked on predatory sweeps of their own people leading to the emergence of violent environment in southeastern region of America.
The partnering of some black Americans with the Europeans also enhanced the success of 17th and 18th centuries’ slavery. The partnering of the native people with the Europeans also played a significant role towards the advancement of liberty. It led to the emergence of military conflicts among the natives that resulted in a steep decline of slave trade in America (Parker 166).
The steep decline of slave trade in America played a significant role towards the advancement of slavery in Africa. Its decline led to the colonialists diverting their attention to Africa. “It led to the slave trafficking in Africa to grow to extraordinary proportions” (Parker 166). Additionally, it made the colonialists draft a system of laws that entrenched Africans as slaves. In addition, “the excessive increase in demand for slaves at the coastal parts as a result of decline of slave trade in America led to the advancement of the slavers to the interior parts of Africa” (Parker 166).
The growth of criticism also enhanced the advancement of liberty. As colonists continued to enslave Africans, “criticism slavery started to grow with enlightenment, which stressed innate human dignity and equality under the law” (Parker 124). Additionally, many Christian denominations, especially Quakers, quested for abolition of slavery on moral and religious practices. Freed slaves and some of those, who managed to escape from slavery (Olaudah Equiano), also took part in advancement of liberty. They achieved this via spreading messages about inhuman treatment of the slaves that were under the colonialists’ control (Parker 124).
Economic challenges also played a significant role for advancement of liberty. As critiques were emanating concerning slavery in the Southern United States, “economic vitality of the slaves was also waning in the early 1800s. Slave revolts and fear of new uprisings raised the cost of maintaining control on plantations. Overexpansion in the sugar industry also led to the decline of profits” (Parker 124). Thus, the drop in economic production in the colonial states contributed significantly towards the end of the Atlantic slavery regime.
The position and views of the British were also the factors that advanced liberty in America. During slave trade period, they reconsidered liberating slaves from slavery. They also agreed on leaving their American colonies alone so that they would have a chance of governing themselves. Thus, the activity of the British made colonialists perceive the liberation of slaves as a natural practice that required no questioning.
The enlightenment of the colonists also triggered the advancement of liberty. During the time of the Revolution, things happened in a unique way; the developments of slavery and liberalization ideas were strange. Immediately after the war between the French and the Indian, the colonists started realizing that their masters, the British, were depriving them enjoyment by taking away their rights. They equated the acts of the British with slavery. They also started believing that the British were enslaving their subjects because they lacked rights that could aid in barring government intervention. Therefore, the colonists thought it wise to rebel against the British government despite their involvement in slavery practice.
The American Revolution and the writing of the Constitution are considered the most momentous years between 1775 and 1800. The American Revolution enhanced the creation of a new and vital nation. It rescued the Americans from tyranny. It also paved way for the creation of new republic that was to become one of the greatest nations in the universe (Bonwick 1).
The American Revolution aided significantly in resolving American issues pertaining independence and oppressions from the British. However, there were many reasons that made the colonists fight against England. For instance, they were revolting against taxation and England’s monopoly. They were also fighting against the advancement of England’s control in their colonies; the British had deployed their soldiers in private households and outlawed public meetings. Additionally, the installation of a British soldier as a governor of Massachusetts had intensified their ill perception of the British. Thus, the Revolution played a significant role towards the attainment of colonists’ independence.
The writing of the Constitution was also very essential. It took part in resolving many issues that were not settled by Revolution. For instance, it aided significantly in defining power among the colonists, the government the country will use, and the relationship of interstates (Bonwick 124).
The Constitution solved many issues including the ones that had potential of causing negative effects to the Americans in the future. For instance, it provided more power to the national government than the state government (Bonwick 131). It also enforced practice of indirect democracy in America. According to the above, the elites were entitled to more power than the common people.
Although most believe that it is the Constitution that created future tensions and social conflicts, it is evident that those problems existed in the past before its drafting. The drafting of the Constitution only prevented them from being the main cause of problems in 1787. The Constitution only postponed the problems to be resolved by future generations. For instance, it indirectly barred African Americans from participating in politics by allowing slavery (Bonwick 167).
The barring of African Americans from politics helped deter Civil Wars. It also helped the blacks seek for their rights after formation of one unified nation. The exclusion of women from politics also played and still plays a significant role towards fighting for women rights. The exclusion of women and blacks from the drafted Constitution also created an opportunity for a debate to be held between proponents and opponents on the rights of women and blacks in America. From the above, it is evident that the Constitution did not create problems as many people think. Therefore, it will be good for one to say that the Constitution dodged from solving some issues that existed by then so as to have a united nation with the potential of solving problems in future.
Works Cited
Bonwick, Colin. The American Revolution. New York: University of Virginia Press, 1991. Print.
Parker, Charles. Global Interactions in the Early Modern Age, 1400–1800. New York: Cambridge University Press. Print.
