Dr. Paul Kerry examines the opposition of the Religious Society of Friends to Texas annexation, the Mexican-American War, and the Fugitive Slave Act as a form of legal resistance to the federalization of slavery. His talk places the First Amendment right of petition at the heart of the story, showing how Quakers used memorials, petitions, antislavery newspapers, religious meetings, and public advocacy to challenge congressional suppression under the gag rule and resist federal complicity in slavery’s expansion and enforcement. The paper recovers a neglected chapter in the history of antislavery constitutionalism.
Event link to follow.
\n\nIf you need an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact the event sponsor or the Texas Law Special Events Office at specialevents@law.utexas.edu no later than seven business days prior to the event. X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Dr. Paul Kerry examines the opposition of the Religious Society of Friends to Texas annexation, the Mexican-American War, and the Fugitive Slave Act as a form of legal resistance to the federalization of slavery. His talk places the First Amendment right of petition at the heart of the story, showing how Quakers used memorials, petitions, antislavery newspapers, religious meetings, and public advocacy to challenge congressional suppression under the gag rule and resist federal complicity in slavery’s expansion and enforcement. The paper recovers a neglected chapter in the history of antislavery constitutionalism.
Event link to follow.
If you need an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact the event event sponsor or the Texas Law Special Events Office at specialevents@law.utexas.edu no later than seven business days prior to the event.
LOCATION:TNH 2.140 - Wright Classroom URL:http://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2026/08/31/88798/ CLASS:PUBLIC STATUS:CONFIRMED END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR