Abolition/Emancipation reform(Cont.)

Abolition/Emancipation reform(continued)

In addition to forcing the Virginia debate, whites' fear of future slave revolts had other important effects. Many slave owners believed that education and privilege inspired revolt. Thus many slave owners pushed state legislatures to enact tighter laws on slaves, which became known as the slave codes. For example, Alabama forbade free and enslaved blacks from preaching the gospel unless respectable slaveholders were present. In some states, free blacks lost the right to own guns, purchase alcohol, assemble in public and testify in court. In some southern cities, blacks could no longer own property. In the District of Columbia, southern representatives countered in 1836 by securing the adoption of a gag rule, a rule limiting or preventing debate on the issue. Nevertheless, as abolitionists' efforts intensified during the 1850's, some turned to violence. This turmoil sounded that this issue would lead to a divided nation.