Throughout the colonial period and after the Revolutionary War slavery was accepted by most U.S. citizens as a normal and inevitable aspect of their affairs. This book traces the history of U.S. slavery from 1820 until the beginning of the Civil War period. Chapter 1 addresses the early establishment and challenges of slavery, while chapters 2 and 3 describe how abolitionists and reformers took increasingly rigid positions after 1820. The antislavery movement is further described in chapter 4, and slavery's effect on U.S. politics is highlighted in chapter 5. The social and religious movements' ramifications and debates are presented in chatper 6. The rise of political abolitionism is described in chapter 7, fugitive slave activity in chapter 8, the Compromise of 1850 in chapter 9, and the role of Kansas in the abolition struggle in chapter 10. The book concludes, in chapter 11, with an explanation of how the antislavery crusade moved from a reform effort to a revolutionary movement. A comprehensive, annotated bibliographical overview and bibliography are appended, and maps and photographs are included. (JHP)