Enlightenment Essay -- History, Slaves, Puritans

The period of Enlightenment in America was host to a society that widely accepted the practice of slavery. It was a custom that was looked favorably upon by most; especially in the South where the economy would have collapsed without it (Davis 1). The slaves were not all cooperative with their bondage however, and there were revolts such as the Stono Rebellion in 1739 (â€Å"Stono Rebellion† Aptheker 1). The treatment of the slaves altered according to their masters severity and the general laws of the area they worked in. Slavery was a struggling debate during the 18th century, and the differing views ended with the Revolutionary War that lasted during 1775 to 1783. Slavery was widely accepted in America during the 1700s. It was an efficient method for farmers and landowners to receive the workers they needed to tend their land and animals. Because of the time period and current immigration boom, slaves often found themselves working with indentured servants. This mostly white majority of people came to America seeking a better life, but were bound to their masters who helped fund their way into the colonies ("New England slavery at the turn of the 18th century." Berlin 1). Indentured servants suffered at the hands of their masters; but unlike slaves, they were not treated as another species or being socially inferior (â€Å"New England† Berlin 1). Many Puritans were uncomfortable with the keeping of slaves and turned to the Bible as a way to justify the practice of human bondage (â€Å"New England† Berlin 1). One of the main conflicts of the Puritans was whether the slaves should be converted to Christianity. Those opposed to this position believed that blacks had no souls to save (â€Å"New England† Berlin 1). They also believed that conversio... ...pears that Jefferson’s gripes are mainly about African Americans rather than their position as slaves, and has the fear of inter-breeding between the whites and blacks. The Enlightenment era was made up of a vast majority of those who accepted slavery, but in the end lost their humanity. It proved a useful tool for farmers and land owners, and it also created much controversy in many topics including religion and human rights. Rebellions were raised and political debates were pursued, and in the end this masterful and inhumane ritual brought a united nation into civil war. Slavery was not a solution for a country so much as it was an ignorance to a race of people. America twisted it’s Puritan values and made them appear supportive of it’s misbehavior. It was not for many years that our nation realized it’s hypocrisy, and it took a war to reach an understanding.