Mitch McConnell: 1619, American slavery starting point, not an important point in history

[Nexus2]

25. I passed this on to some friends and received some responses that were illustrative of different POV

Among them:

I’m actually inclined to agree; in 1619, slavery was still a fairly common practice worldwide. A much more significant date would be March 6, 1857, the date of the Dred Scott decision. That ruling explicitly stated that nonwhites were not and could not be US citizens, and also overturned the “once free, always free” doctrine common even in slave states, as well as, by implication, denying slaves the ability to buy their own freedom.

Yeah, I would agree with that in terms of American uniqueness in dealing with its “peculiar institution.” By no means ignore or brush under the rug but 1619 isn’t a “most important date in US history.” I think the Missouri Compromise of 1820 is another one - trying to legislate morality & balance of political power along a border for free & slave states. Instructive too in our political times today too. I guess even a broke clock like McConnell can be right twice a day... smh