Why did the National Assembly hesitate to make an immediate law on slavery?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: Because merchants and plantation owners could oppose it
The governing concept is the political influence of economic interests. The National Assembly faced a conflict: revolutionary principles suggested that liberty and equality should apply broadly, but merchants and plantation owners benefited from colonial slavery and could resist a law threatening their profits and property claims. This pressure encouraged delay and caution rather than immediate abolition. Option C is correct because it identifies the influential groups whose opposition made the issue politically sensitive. Option A is false because slavery existed in French colonies. Option B is false because enslaved people did not already possess equal political rights, and option D confuses the Assembly’s period with Napoleon’s later actions. The answer is therefore about political hesitation caused by colonial interests.
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What is the correct answer to this question?
Because merchants and plantation owners could oppose it
Why is this the correct answer?
The governing concept is the political influence of economic interests. The National Assembly faced a conflict: revolutionary principles suggested that liberty and equality should apply broadly, but merchants and plantation owners benefited from colonial slavery and could resist a law threatening their profits and property claims. This pressure encouraged delay and caution rather than immediate abolition. Option C is correct because it identifies the influential groups whose opposition made the issue politically sensitive. Option A is false because slavery existed in French colonies. Option B is false because enslaved people did not already possess equal political rights, and option D confuses the Assembly’s period with Napoleon’s later actions. The answer is therefore about political hesitation caused by colonial interests.
Which subject and chapter does this question cover?
This is a Class 9 History question. Chapter: The French Revolution. Topic: The Abolition of Slavery.
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