Lead: In 1816 a group of whites, disturbed by the presence of black Americans, slave and free, began to plan to send them back to Africa. Intro.: A Moment in Time with Dan Roberts. Content: In the early 1800s most Americans supported slavery. Whether for economic reasons or through a general sense of racial superiority, many whites considered blacks to be sub-human, eligible for exploitation. Only a small number were in favor of emancipation and full civil rights for blacks. An even smaller body of opinion was represented by the American Colonization Society formed in 1816. This group believed that the continued presence of blacks, slave and free, had a corrosive effect on white society. They proposed to return freed blacks to Africa. Loading... Taking too long? Reload document | Open in new tab Download [5.86 KB] Share
