Moral Persuasion

[gem]

how many people here think an arguement beyond moral persuasion was necessary to end slavery in the US?

 

[JerseyBart]

how many people here think an arguement beyond moral persuasion was necessary to end slavery in the US?

I don't want to sound sarcastic because I am being serious in my response but my answer to slaveholders would have been..."you know that the 'property' you speak of is actually a person, even though you won't admit it unless you need a fraction of them to increase your state's voting population and that he/she was kidnapped to bring him/her over to America and you are falsely imprisoning and abusing him/her? And all of that is illegal. So, free them or go to jail and we'll see how you like it."

 

[CMWinkler]

This may sound flippant and it's really not meant to be but I think in answer to your question history speaks for itself.

 

[gem]

If people agree that moral persuasion would not have ended slavery why criticize those who took to violence in the fight against slavery?