History of the United States I / Unit 13 USH1 1840 short lesson, about 20 seconds
The Gag Rule
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The idea
Congress passed a gag rule forbidding any consideration of the hundreds of abolitionist petitions that were arriving from around the country.
In practice
Anti-abolitionists also seeking federal laws to criminalise abolitionist literature in the mails.
Where people slip
A legislature suspending the right of petition in order to protect slavery is a constitutional entry as much as a reform one.
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