![]() | In the Shadow of Freedom: The Politics of Slavery in the National Capital Subjects: Slavery -- Washington (D.C.) -- History -- 19th century -- Congresses; Slavery -- Political aspects -- Washington (D.C.) -- History -- 19th century -- Congresses; Antislavery movements -- Washington (D.C.) -- History -- 19th century -- Congresses; United; Few images of early America were more striking, and jarring, than that of slaves in the capital city of the world's most important free republic. Black slaves served and sustained the legislators, bureaucrats, jurists, cabinet officials, military leaders, and even the presidents who lived and worked there. While slaves quietly kept the nation's capital running smoothly, lawmakers debated the place of slavery in the nation, the status of slavery in the territories newly acquired from Mexico, and even the legality of the slave trade in itself. |
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