Twelve Men In a Printing Shop

The introduction of Adam Hochschild’s book, Bury the Chains, sets the stage by describing the prevalence of slavery in the eighteenth century. In a world where slaves outnumbered free people, it was difficult to imagine life without slavery and bondage. However, human empathy led to a meeting of twelve men looking to change the rights of someone else. This compassion was unheard of for the slaves were in another country and of another race. An ordinary printing shop became the site of a revolutionary meeting that paved the way for the abolitionist movement.