Slave nation: how slavery united the colonies & sparked the American Revolution

Somerset's journey sparks the American Revolution

The tinderbox

Virginia responds to the Somerset Decision

The Virginia Resolution unites the Colonies and leads to the First Continental Congress in 1774

John Adams supports the South on slavery

Colonies claim independence from Parliament

The immortal ambiguity : "all men are created equal"

The Articles of Confederation reject Somerset and protect slavery

The lure of the West : slavery protected in the Territories

Deadlock over slavery in the Consitutional Convention

A slave-free Northwest Territory

Cementing the bargain : ratification by Virginia and the First Congress

How then should we view the Founding Fathers?