To What Extent Did The Influence Of The American Colonization Society's Gradualist Approach To Emancipation, As Outlined In The Writings Of Francis Scott Key And Henry Clay, Shape The Perspectives Of Kentucky's Slave-owning Elite, Particularly Those In The Bluegrass Region, On The Feasibility Of Gradual Emancipation Versus Immediate Abolition In The Decade Preceding The Outbreak Of The Civil War?

The American Colonization Society (ACS), advocating for gradual emancipation through colonization, influenced some slave owners in Kentucky's Bluegrass Region during the 1850s, though acceptance was limited. Henry Clay, a prominent Kentuckian and ACS supporter, likely swayed some to consider gradual emancipation as a moderate alternative to immediate abolition. However, the region's economic dependence on slavery and rising national tensions leading to the Civil War hindered widespread acceptance.

Slave owners in the Bluegrass, reliant on slavery for their economy, were generally conservative and resistant to any form of emancipation. While the ACS's approach appealed to some as a way to avoid sudden economic disruption and address racial fears through colonization, practical challenges like cost and enslaved people's reluctance to move to Africa made it less feasible.

National events, such as the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Dred Scott decision, increased polarization, pushing some towards more extreme positions. Despite Clay's influence, most Bluegrass elites opposed emancipation, favoring the status quo. Thus, while the ACS's gradualist approach had some impact, it was insufficient to shift the majority view, highlighting the entrenched opposition to any form of emancipation in the region.