What if the early US presidents had slaves given to them?

King Thomas

Banned
Say, 200 slaves or so, as a gift on entering the White House, from 1789 until whenever slavery is ended in America in this timeline. (presented to them by slave-owners who want to keep slavery going as long as possible.) Would it make the abolition of slavery come any later then in our timeline or have little or no effect?
 

Keenir

Banned
Say, 200 slaves or so, as a gift on entering the White House, from 1789 until whenever slavery is ended in America in this timeline. (presented to them by slave-owners who want to keep slavery going as long as possible.)


so, basically, a cadre of slaves accountable only to the President?

hm....*Teddy Roosevelt would use them as his own personal porters to carry whatever he shoots; *Hoover could use his for spycraft;

its an interesting idea.


Would it make the abolition of slavery come any later then in our timeline or have little or no effect?

it might be generalized slavery - but there might be a holdout in the White House: think of the status that you'd get from having worked for the most powerful man in the nation.
 

Wolfpaw

Banned
Well, precedent would be really messed up because if Washington even accepts them (which he very well may not, seeing as how, IIRC, he declined his salary), Adams will free however many he can.
 
All of the early presidents had Slaves. from Washington to Monroe are definite. it is quite possible that there were slaves for many more presidents as well. actually look into it.
 
I doubt it would have much effect, weren't most of the Presidents already well to do? As a result their desire to own slaves would be solely dependent on their personal views.

It would be amusing if somehow in the future of such a POD after slavery is abolished that the custom still survives as a quaint little ceremony, whereby the President is handed 200 black feathers, symbolic of the shame of slavery and the ongoing loyalty of the 'African' population. Something like that.
 
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