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A complex, universal problem

Melvin B. Miller

Slavery is an ancient human status from the days of the first city-states. The human effort required to maintain agricultural economies induced the rise of slavery in various parts of the world. Limited abolitions did not begin in Europe until the end of the 18th century.

At the time of our Declaration of Independence in 1776, 41 of the 56 delegates owned slaves. As a consequence, it would be an obliteration of the nation’s history if there was a decision to remove any record of or memorial to a slave-holding Founding Father.

However, those who participated in the Civil War to maintain slavery fall into a more negative category.