Question

What do you infer was the general stance or position of Americans towards enslaved peoples immediately after independence?

a. Widespread support for abolition and equal rights.
b. Continued acceptance of slavery as a social and economic institution.
c. Varied opinions with regional differences in attitudes.
d. A unanimous commitment to emancipation and civil rights.

Answer 1

The general stance of Americans towards enslaved peoples immediately after independence varied with regional differences. In the North, there was support for emancipation and abolition, while the South continued to embrace slavery.

Step-by-step explanation:

The general stance or position of Americans towards enslaved peoples immediately after independence varied opinions with regional differences in attitudes.

In the North, many Americans, especially in the North, embraced emancipation and worked to end slavery within their borders. Several northern states banned or curtailed slavery through legislation or court action, while others adopted policies of gradual emancipation.

However, in the South, most states renewed their commitment to slavery as a social and economic institution, and resisted the idea of statewide emancipation. This led to the increase of slavery as the number of slaves grew dramatically after the invention of the cotton gin.