Reflection Question One

American Independence
Some have argued that, by "kicking the can down the road" the question of
slavery would remain a thorn in the side of the nation, eventually leading to the
Civil War and remaining at the root of many of the social challenges we face
today. The existence of white supremacy today is a direct result of our history of
slavery and our avoidance of the issue.

Should the nation's founders have addressed the issue of slavery, either
condemning it or embracing it, when they wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Should they have done so, knowing it would mean losing the support of the
Southern states and having no country at all? How did leaving the question of
slavery alone undermine the values and ideals expressed in the Declaration? How
has our history of prejudice and institutionalized racism undermined the values our
nation is supposed to stand for? Explain your answer.

What would the price have been if America had lost the Revolutionary war
and failed to come together as a nation? Why do you think so and how might
things be different for us now?