Explaining the Different Opinions/Stances Existed on the Colonization Debates of the 1800's - Research Paper Example

DRAFT Colonization debates of the 1800 Colonization is something that characterised most the times before and before 1800 in most parts of the world. Colonization involved colonial masters gaining full control of other states and countries as their protectorate. The process of colonizing other countries seems to have been pleasing to some of the colonial masters, however, this is not the usual case, there were several arguments that were made for and against the process. This means that those who fronted the idea faced certain resistances from other people, while the process had to stop in some places. In 1817, an organisation was established to champion for the abolition of slavery in most parts of America, this meant that those people that had been freed from slavery during this process had to be repatriated back to their countries of origin. The American Colonization Society (ACS) that was under Robert Finley of New Jersey was tasked with this huge role. This society was the only primary vehicle that was in existence at that time to drum support for the return of free African Americans to their homeland, Africa. This society started as a small organisation that was never thought to have any impact; however, the society was responsible for the founding of the colony of Liberia between 1821-1822. To this effect, Liberia became instrumental as a place where freed men would be settled. This was a great step towards finding an alternative for the process of colonization in most parts of Africa, this meant that Liberia did not have to be colonized. Instead, it served as the place where those people reed from slavery would be resettled. This process received support from many people, who thought that this was a good thing; some of these people included John Randolph, Henry Clay, Brand Lee among others. In Africa, the process of colonization was much profound, almost in every corner; there were colonial masters that had moved all the way from Europe and other parts of the world. Paul Cuffee is said to have been a very wealthy and influential human rights activities in New England, he was a neither a European nor an African but rather, he was mixed in terms of race. Fed up by the colonial activities in Africa, Paul became active in the processes of stopping slavery and colonization; he became an advocate of settling freed blacks in Africa. In his activism, Paul received much support from most of the African leaders at that time, most of whom were very much against the process of colonization and slavery. The Colony of Great Britain in Sierra Leone in West Africa Paul sacrificed all that he had in order to end the process of colonization and slavery, this saw him finance and captain several successful voyages to the well-established British rule that was in Sierra Leone, this happened between 1811 -1816. The activities of Paul Cuffee were felt in most parts of west Africa, where many African-American immigrants were resettled. It is believed that after his death in 1817, Paul is thought to have inspired the works of the American Colonization Society (ACS) to carry on with further processes of settling African-American emigrants freed from slavery and colonization in the West. It is believed that the ACS was an organisation that was mostly composed of evangelicals and Quakers who should great support for abolition of slavery and colonization processes. Most of the colonial masters were driven by the fact that there was free labour in most of the countries in Africa and this labour was supposed to be channeled to productive economic activities. To this effect, the society argued that unfree labour in any way did not represent the economic future of the nation. In repatriating the freed blacks back to their countries, ACS and those people that supported them argued that Africans had better chances to live full lives and develop their own economies in their countries than being in America. On the other hand, those who held the slaves showed opposition to federally mandated abolition by the state but instead, they saw repatriation as the only way to remove free blacks and reduce slave rebellions that were becoming common in most parts. Following this development, several black Americans were moved to Liberia from the United States where they had been taken captive as slaves. For over twenty years, the economy of Liberia started growing because there was plenty labour to produce materials needed for economic growth, by 1847, the economy had grown and gained much stability that the legislature of Liberia declared it an independent state. British opposition to the ACS and colonization of Liberia The ACS found a lot of support and inspiration from the efforts and perspectives of Paul Cuffee, this saw them increase their efforts towards repatriating back American slaves back to Africa, where they believed that Africans had the potential to grow and establish the economy of their nations. In the first place, this did not go down well with British colonialists who started to be in opposition to their works. The British anti-slave advocates had critics that did not find the work of the American Colonization Society pleasing, according to their own perspectives. Some of these critics included Charles Stuart, George Thompson as well as James Copper among others; this came in the period before and after 1830. In all the speeches and publications that these people made, it was directly pointing at sustained attacks at the actions of ACS. This anti slavery advocates did not support the repatriation processes, instead, they only wanted to stop the process and let the slaves free to live as they wanted. They downplayed the belief of the ACS that repatriation back slaves to their countries of origin would set them free. This was evident in most of the exchanges that they had, for instance, William Wilberforce, one of the anti-slavery leaders that was most famous characterised the belief by the American Colonization Society belief that colonization could ultimately facilitate emancipation as mere “delusive.” Motives behind repatriation ideas by ACS and groups that supported the process The American colonization was criticized and applauded in equal measure by different groups and other nations, yet this society had found enough inspiration in the works of Paul Cuffee, who had done meaningful efforts in resettling black emigrants in Africa in Liberia. However, the question that most historians sought to establish was the driving force behind their acts that were humanly in some ways and not in others. It is believed that the process of colonization and later freeing and repatriating black African-Americans had a mixture of motives. The free blacks, freedmen as well as their descendants to a widespread debate in the United States, these people were considered a burden to the economy of United States, at the same time, they were considered a threat to the white workers because, their presence meant a cut in their pay due to increased labour. Other people that advocated for the abolition process claimed that it would be difficult for the Africans to get any kind of equality in America after they were freed from slavery, and that the only way to increase their welfare was to take them back to Africa. Here, it would be easy for them to be in a position to make better their economies. At the same time, mane of the slaveholders in the United States became worried that the presence of many freed blacks would prompt a rise in rebellion from other slaves in the country, for this reason, taking them to another place was a better proposition. This is the reason that underpinned the efforts of the American Colonization Society, with many people praising their efforts including some of the British antislavery leaders. Initially, the organisation was thought to be non racial, bat later, some of its members showed open racism and in several occasions, they argued that the free blacks would not be able to assimilate effectively in the American Society that was composed of the whites. One of the slave owners, John Randolph, described the freed blacks as “promoters of mischief ” who did not deserve a place in the American society. During this time, there was an estimated 2 million Africa-Americans living and working in the country as slaves. Out of these, an estimate of about 200, 000 had been freed, but with legislated limits. Henry Clay, a congressman underpinned the process of repatriating freed Africans back to their country by arguing that it would be difficult for the freed black to fully be accepted and integrate into the white society, according to him, it was because of "unconquerable prejudice" that was evident from the white Americans. To this effect, he saw it wise that the Africans be taken back to their countries, where they would easily do as they pleased without anyone bothering them. Reverend Finley, realizing that the freed blacks had been picked from different countries thought that it would not be easy taking all of them to their respective countries. The only way was therefore to set a colony in Africa, where the freed black Africans would be taken. It is this thinking and outlook that is said to have prompted the establishment of Liberia as a colony of freed slaves. With all these perspectives, ACS found a lot of strength and grew to most parts of America to collect and repatriate freed blacks back to Africa. It is therefore evident from the foregone discussion that the period between the years in 1800 saw a lot of opinions and debates over colonization and slavery. Some of the perspectives created were instrumental to the end of slavery and colonization in America and Africa. While the economy of the United States started growing and expanding significantly, those slaves that were taken back to Africa to work and spur the growth of economic activities did not do much, however, they were able to govern themselves independently with freedom, something that had long been desired. Works cited Garrison William. Address to the Colonization Society. 4 July 1829. Web. 14 May 2014. < http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/address-to-the-colonization-society/> James Thome et al. Debate at the Lane Seminary, Cincinnati. New York: Garrison & Knapp. 2006. Print Read More