Angela Murphy wrote a monograph to communicate to her audience about slavery, which was popular during 1851 in the United States. It is believed that the context of her monograph is focused on the incident that occurred in New York to draw attention to the new law, the “Fugitive Slave Law,” which illegalized all meetings in Free states like New York. However, Angela Murphy wanted her audience to learn about the fugitive law, slavery system, and anti-slavery movement. In the book, Angela argues that slavery is illegal and should be abolished (Murphy 6). Angela maintained that slavery is torture and, therefore, Jerry deserves freedom since he has not committed any offense. In the eyes of slave Masters, Jerry committed an offense by attending a meeting organized to rally people against slavery.
Nevertheless, the attempt to liberate Jerry from federal custody was not about one man, Jerry. It is believed to be about everyone who was being subjected to slavery. Jerry was picked from the meeting he was attending at Syracuse, and handing him over to a slave master would have neutralized the anti-slavery party called the Liberty Party. The rejection and attempt to free Jerry from custody was a bigger plan to show the slave masters that people would be freed by all means possible. It was meant to send a message that it was time to warm up and free all slaves.
The event that happened in Syracuse indicated the frustration that many African Americans and other races were experiencing in the United States during the 1850s (Murphy 4). It was a time when the practice of slavery was high, and people’s freedom was limited. During this period, many blacks were being subjected to slavery, and several movements against slavery were working to make sure that slavery was abolished. The freedom of assembly was limited, and law enforcement could arrest anyone at will, and extraordinary charges were brought against any individuals. Therefore, the events that occurred in Syracuse and things that were happening in the country are related because slavery was the center of discussion, and several movements were campaigning against the continuation of slavery in the United States.
Angela Murphy is not just another local history; it provides broader lessons for readers and her audience about a particular time in the history of the United States. It illustrated the history of slavery and its effect on the people. It also tells people about the slavery system in the United States, and therefore, the monograph addresses certain issues that political doing could not address.
Works Cited
Murphy, Angela F. “The Jerry Rescue.” The Fugitive Slave Law, Northern Rights, and the American Sectional Crisis (2014): 1-5.
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