Hamilton on Slavery in the National Arena During the 1780S–1790S

During the 1770s, Hamilton briefly adopted a democratic outlook on politics but soon became disillusioned. He did nothing to oppose slavery as a member of Congress and the New York Assembly during the 1780s. As a member of the New-York Manumission Society, which he joined in 1785, he was at least nominally involved in setting up the African Free School in New York City in 1787, the first free primary school in the United States, financed by contributions from NYMS members. He said nothing against slavery as New York’s delegate to the Great Constitutional Convention in 1787. When he briefly returned to New York City during the Convention, he advised the NYMS against sending it an antislavery petition, which might disrupt the proceedings.