ABSTRACT
Throughout the colonial period and after the American Revolution, slavery was accepted by most Americans as a normal and inevitable aspect of their affairs. The American Revolution and the years following excited new expectations that slavery must soon dwindle in strength and prestige. The invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney in 1793 made slavery profitable in cotton cultivation; thereafter, the southern leadership became more assertive in defense of its rights. The eminent Frenchman received an appeal from a public-spirited citizen to speak out against slavery, the latter having "a recollection of the notices in the author early youth of thy generous efforts in the Cause of American liberty". Many other Northerners adopted an equally virtuous stand regarding their willingness to live with slavery as a system. Their insensitivity was a major challenge, not only to abolitionists, but to other antislavery partisans now coming to be frustrated in their hopes that southern spokesmen would support programs for freeing slaves.
