“Of One Blood All Nations”
As the nation wrestled with emancipation in 1863, many Americans called for a reassessment of racism in light of scripture. Americans looked to various texts, including the Curse of Ham, but especially Paul’s statement, God “hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation” (Acts 17:26). This was a major proof text in a hotly contested debate over human origins. One view—represented by Swiss-born Harvard professor Louis Agassiz—supported “polygenism,” the belief that different races originated at different times and places. Others argued for “monogenesis,” claiming all races had a common origin and shared a common humanity. Paul’s “one blood” statement became a proof text for monogenesis and a key argument against slavery. Americans often cited it alongside the Declaration of Independence and the golden rule.