APPREHENDING THE SIMULTANEOUS DEVELOPMENT OF BOTH

Abstract

No institution in the history of the United States of America is more contradictory to the founding principles of the American republic than the institution of slavery. After the New world was discovered and flooded with peoples coming from diverse horizons, only interest-guided activities were undertaken, developed and promoted. The seeming inconsistencies or the far-fetched hypocrisy of slaveholders devoting themselves to freedom and equality is the central paradox of America. Providing an explanation of how people could have developed the dedication to human liberty and dignity exhibited by the leaders of the American Revolution and at the same time have developed and maintained a system of labor and bondage that denied human and dignity is the object of this research work. With a special focus on Virginia, it has set out to look into two centuries and more, of ambiguities and arduous struggle to make the American dream become a reality.