With slavery and the definition of a citizen set the tone for race in america for the next seven decades. The u. S. Capitol society posted hosted this event. Its about one hour. Today, we are going to start with paul polgar, who is a longtime colleague of mine. He started interning with the First Federal congress project a long time ago. He is not sensitive about his age. He is too young to be that. What it seems like it was a long time ago and we were able to see him take some of the things and develop it and work it into his phd dissertation, which is the basis for his first book. A well grounded hope. He teaches at the university of mississippi. We are fortunate to have him coming all the way up here to th d. C. I want to thank the other people who made this a truly National Event with a scope that goes beyond this area code. We have a visitor from california, a good friend of ours, and another wonderful friend from new york city. For some reason, im forgetting your name. I am sorry
Ago and we were able to see him take some of the things and things he worked within our , develop that and work it into his phd dissertation, which is the basis for his first book. A well grounded hope, abolishing and racial inequality in america. He teaches at the university of reallyippi, now we are fortunate to have him come all the way up here to from d. C. I want to thank the other people who made this a truly National Event with a scope that goes beyond this area code. We have a visitor from the west coast, from california , a good friend of ours. And another wonderful friend from new york city. For some reason i am forgetting your name. I am sorry john. Who represents the harvard conservancy. Who is developing the federal hall site of where the First Federal congress met into a going thing. Destination in Lower Manhattan for studies of the early congresses. Welcome to everybody, whether you came from near or far. Lets welcome paul polgar. [applause] professor polgar thank you fo
New museum of the American Revolution. A few yards over on this side is Independence Hall, which everyone knows. Between these Historic Buildings is Carpenters Hall which is less well known but also a structure of significance to all americans because it was here that the Continental Congress met for the first time and made the decision that eventually led to the open revolution and the declaration of independence. Were on the first floor of Carpenters Hall and youll remember from your perhaps grade School History lessons that in 1773 a group of supposedly indians, at least they were dressed up that way, threw a lot of chests of tea in the Boston Harbor in protest of taxes levy by the crown in parliament, along with imports to america. The british had a strange idea that maybe the columnists ought to pay for some of the defenses that they are providing against the french and other people who have interest in north america. At any rate, the crown was furious and as a result they passed
To d. C. Before i bring him to the podium, i want to make this a National Event with a scope that goes beyond this area code. We have a visitor from california here, a good friend of ours, and another wonderful friend from new york city. For some reason, im forgetting your name. John. John mackateer, im sorry, john. He represents the harvard conservancy developing the federal hall site of where the First Federal congress met into a going thing, a real destination in Lower Manhattan for studies of the early congresses. So welcome to everybody, whether you came from near or far, and well welcome paul poglar. [ applause ] thank you, chuck, for that introduction. I would like to thank the Historical Society for inviting me here today. So my talk today entitled congresss first debate on slavery and race is going to attempt to demonstrate, really, the central ways that this First National congressional debate really set the tone for these larger issues of slavery and race as they would play
Three or four months ago maybe we should get some people together. And i thought that sounds like a good idea. I started trying to find people. It was difficult. Then stuff started happening in dc that was vaguely reminiscent to some of the things we worked on. And all of a sudden everybody seemed to want to show up. This is just fantastic. On a personal level. Raise your hand if you were on the the committee staff. This is pretty amazing. So, we said goodbye to each other 43, 44 years ago. And when i got ready to do this i called jim hamilton who was my boss back then. I say jim, i mean it ill have it in tomorrow. He says gordon you better have it in tomorrow. So it was just like no time has passed for a lot of us. The other thing i was struck with, when we broke up. I dont know how many remember this. Sam dash had a final meeting and we were all stuffed into his office. And he said this has been the most important thing thats happened in my life and im sure it will ever happen in my