Slavery refers to the system in which humans are handled as a resource, and they are forced to work. Slavery forms the central theme in the chapter Yankees and “Border Ruffians” in “Bleeding Kansas”. Few weeks after Sara Robinson husband arrest hundreds of armed pro slavery men descended on antislavery looted, destroyed homes business, and even post offices (John 207). The pro slavery saw slavery as the key to individual advancement, and they expected their property to be protected including the slaves (John 207). David Atchison as one of the highest ranking members of US senate made sure that slaveholder lived in Kansas in the first place, and could not allow the Yankees take the land (John 207). From these examples, it is clear in one’s mind that slavery forms the main focus of Sara Robinson and David Atchison, and, therefore, slavery form the main theme of the chapter. The white men sought only to better their lot in life at the expense of slavery, and they believed it was their right to own slaves.
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The main character Sara Robinson and, David Atchison tend to take opposing positions on the issue of slavery. On one hand, even though Sara Robinson was not the most opponent of slavery expansion, her prolific pen helped publicize the plight of antislavery forces on the field, (John 207). She was against the right of southerners taking slaves in Kansas, wrote, and carried documents to alert the Republicans to the situation in Kansas regarding territorial elections (John 219). She finds herself on the receiving end when hundreds of armed pro slavery men descend on antislavery. Her house was destroyed and documents publicizing the plight of antislavery destroyed. Her husband was also seized and thrown to jail by proslavery from the southern. Unlike David, Atchison, she seems to understand the predicaments of slaves and, therefore, fights for their rights.
On the other hand, David Atchison played a significant role in ensuring that slaveholder lived in Kansas in the first place. He was not a well defender of slavery expansion but, his commitment to cause slavery expansion ran straight from the halls of power to the bloody Kansas grassland (John 208). He effectively influenced slavery expansion from the barrel of a gun. He worked to enforce the right of people in the south to take slaves into Kansas territory, and he had made preparations for these on his early life (John 209). David Atchison seems to be more pertained about protecting the white man’s property including the slaves than Sara who seems to be concerned about the people’s plight. Unlike, Sara Robinson, he saw slaves, not like human beings whose right needed to be protected, but, as property required to be protected.
Although, Sara Robinson and, David Atchison tend to take opposing positions on the issue of slavery, they have one thing in common in that they defend the rights of people. Sara Robinson was against the right of southerners taking slaves in Kansas. She wrote, and carried documents to alert the Republicans to the situation in Kansas regarding territorial elections (John 219). She used her writing skills to write and publicize the plight of antislavery forces on the field. This show that Sara Robinson was on the forefront in defending people’s right. David Atchison demonstrated his ample legal and political skills when he took the potentially dangerous work of defending the unpopular newcomers to western Missouri. The Mormons were harassed and assaulted on suspicion of being un-Mormons. Church leaders turned to David Atchison for legal advice in the protection of the Mormons rights. For seven years, he devoted much of his time to defending the rights of the Mormons against depredation by his own neighbors (John 209). Although, Atchison initially seemed not to be much concerned about slavery which is a violation of human rights, Atchison appear to have a changed mind when involved in defending the rights of the Mormons.
In helping me understand my life experience, Sara Robinson approach is the best as compared to David Atchison. She uses her writing skills to pass the message of the plight of the antislavery as compared to David who uses barrel of the gun to pass his message. David approach teaches one to use force to extend his/her point. Sara approach teaches me to use polite methods in extending my opinions so as to be on the correct side of law and not cause violence. Slavery violates human rights and should not be allowed.