Hannah-Jones writes, “In fact, some might argue that this nation was
founded not as a democracy but as a slavocracy” (p. 19). What evidence
does she use to substantiate that claim? Do you agree or disagree? Why
or why not?
Week 5 Day 1 Question 2
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Hannah-Jones backs the claim that America was founded as a “slavocracy” by acknowledging the influence that enslavers and slavery had on the early government of America and its early founding documents. She highlights that many of the nation’s founders were wealthy slaveholders and that the Constitution contains significant protections for slavery. She mentions that of the eighty-four clauses in the Constitution, six of them directly handle slavery and ultimately treat slaves as private property. Hannah-Jones argues that in reality, the early government of America was ruled by and protected the rights of those who profited from slavery. For the first fifty years of the nation, Southerners served as president for all but twelve years, and the majority were from Virginia. She states that enslavers dominated the presidency, the Supreme Court, and the Senate until the Civil War.
I agree with Hannha-Jones’ claim that early America was founded as a slavocracy because her argument makes sense, that the structural design of the government fundamentally protected and advanced the interests of enslavers over democratic ideals. I feel as though there is definitely a contradiction within the founding documents as the principles of liberty and equality are not universal. Hannah-Jones makes a very good point that the founding documents actively support the voices of slaveholders and they are the ones who have the power in America as a result. It is interesting to think about how tied to slavery the founding of our nation is both politically and economically, and I agree with Hannah-Jones that there is no separation between them.
Hannah-Jones argues that the United States could be considered a “slavocracy” because slavery played a major role in the country’s founding and development. One piece of evidence she uses is how important enslaved labor was to the early American economy. Enslaved Africans produced valuable crops like tobacco that generated huge profits and helped build the wealth of the colonies. This suggests that slavery was not just a side issue but a key part of the nation’s economic foundation.
She also points out the contradiction between democratic ideals and the reality of slavery. For example, Thomas Jefferson wrote that “all men are created equal,” yet he enslaved hundreds of people and benefited from their labor. Hannah-Jones also mentions that some colonists feared Britain might threaten slavery, especially after Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation offered freedom to enslaved people who joined the British side during the Revolutionary War. This suggests that protecting slavery may have influenced the push for independence. Overall, I agree with her argument because it shows how closely slavery was tied to the nation’s economy and political system. At the same time, it also highlights the contradiction between the ideals of democracy and the reality that many people were denied freedom when the country was founded.