George Mason was a slaveholder, but he came to believe that slavery was wrong. [1 min. 4 secs.]

George Mason was strongly opposed to slavery and expressed his opposition throughout his life. He felt slavery would destroy the new nation. [1 min. 28 secs.]

George Mason called slavery "that infernal traffic" and thought it posed a danger to the morals of the people who held slaves. [1 min. 22 secs.]

Unlike George Washington, George Mason never freed his slaves. He condemned slavery, but was unable to fully realize his own principles. [1 min. 11 secs.]

Historian Bernard Bailyn argued that abolitionism didn't truly exist in the era of the American Revolution. [54 secs.]

Should we expect the Founders to have transcended the limitations of their own age in their actions against and attitudes toward slavery? [1 min. 9 secs.]

America's ideals of liberty couldn't justify the institution of slavery: Founders like George Mason knew it. [59 secs.]

Slavery wasn't just a Southern problem. It was a big problem for the North, too. [1 min. 12 secs.]