In Chapter 11, it was mentioned that “Slavery is primarily a labor method intended to build wealth for landowners…It increasingly became a capitalistic small business intended to maximize profits. As such, it was tied to a growing international net of economic relations.”
By 1820, the South became the world’s largest producer of cotton. Cotton required continuous development, land, labor demand including a global program of trade. As such, it depended increasingly on the slave-based economy. However, the Upper South was experiencing a extended depression and it affected prices. To survive, either the planters move or stay and diversify. Diversification meant shifting to grains and to selling slaves. Soon, the internal slave trade became a multi-million dollar industry.
Until the 1830’s, slavery was said being a “necessary evil.” However, the call for abolition of slavery was getting stronger and they had to transform their justification for maintaining slaves to produce it much more acceptable. The Southerners began to label slavery as “a sure good.” They based their justifications on 5 sources – the bible, history, the Constitution, science and sociology.
The biblical justification makes reference towards curse imposed upon Ham, Noah’s son as well as the various verses from both the Old and New Testament reprimanding servants to usually obey their masters. For its historical justification, they pointed out that all ancient civilizations have been according to it and most likely even the current civilization depended “on the servitude of the blacks in America.” The Constitution was their reference to its legal justification which refused to abolish slavery and various laws passed protecting it just like the overseas slave trade and mandate for returning slaves to rightful owners. They also turned to science and twisted the facts an conclusions to justify that blacks were an inferior race in accordance with the cranial shape and size and must, therefore, submit to their destiny “to work for the superior Caucasians.” Lastly, the sociological justification was created more clear by the paternalistic statement as advocated by George Fitzhugh that the “’Negro is but a grown infant and need to be governed as a child’ and so needed the paternal guidance, restraint and protection of the white master.”
Be that since it may, to cost-free the blacks would mean “giving up our beautiful region on the ravages on the black race and amalgamation of the savages.”
On the humanitarian side, they mentioned that it would be heartless to release them particularly following seeing that the blacks can only be industrial laborers working like slaves for meager pay from which they will need to use to obtain shelter, meals and clothing. They will likely be a burden to the white people who must compete for ones exact same work plus a burden to themselves for getting to fend for themselves without the need of the nurturing protection of a master.
These justifications have been had being well-thought of so that it would not run contrary to the prevailing ideological directions in the American society at that time which espoused “individual liberty, mobility, economic opportunity and democratic political participation.” Moreover, they can't afford to antagonize the almost certainly envious non-slave obtaining whites that they had to emphasize “white superiority regardless of class.”
The truth from the matter is that behind all these justifications, the genuine motive is money. By 1860, the crop per importance of the slave is $125. Enslaved women improve their importance whenever they give birth to healthy children. A prime field worker which sold for $600 in 1844 can go as high as $1800 following a cotton boom. All items told, what mattered most is that slavery is profitable.
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By 1820, the South became the world’s largest producer of cotton. Cotton required continuous development, land, labor demand including a global program of trade. As such, it depended increasingly on the slave-based economy. However, the Upper South was experiencing a extended depression and it affected prices. To survive, either the planters move or stay and diversify. Diversification meant shifting to grains and to selling slaves. Soon, the internal slave trade became a multi-million dollar industry.
Until the 1830’s, slavery was said being a “necessary evil.” However, the call for abolition of slavery was getting stronger and they had to transform their justification for maintaining slaves to produce it much more acceptable. The Southerners began to label slavery as “a sure good.” They based their justifications on 5 sources – the bible, history, the Constitution, science and sociology.
The biblical justification makes reference towards curse imposed upon Ham, Noah’s son as well as the various verses from both the Old and New Testament reprimanding servants to usually obey their masters. For its historical justification, they pointed out that all ancient civilizations have been according to it and most likely even the current civilization depended “on the servitude of the blacks in America.” The Constitution was their reference to its legal justification which refused to abolish slavery and various laws passed protecting it just like the overseas slave trade and mandate for returning slaves to rightful owners. They also turned to science and twisted the facts an conclusions to justify that blacks were an inferior race in accordance with the cranial shape and size and must, therefore, submit to their destiny “to work for the superior Caucasians.” Lastly, the sociological justification was created more clear by the paternalistic statement as advocated by George Fitzhugh that the “’Negro is but a grown infant and need to be governed as a child’ and so needed the paternal guidance, restraint and protection of the white master.”
Be that since it may, to cost-free the blacks would mean “giving up our beautiful region on the ravages on the black race and amalgamation of the savages.”
On the humanitarian side, they mentioned that it would be heartless to release them particularly following seeing that the blacks can only be industrial laborers working like slaves for meager pay from which they will need to use to obtain shelter, meals and clothing. They will likely be a burden to the white people who must compete for ones exact same work plus a burden to themselves for getting to fend for themselves without the need of the nurturing protection of a master.
These justifications have been had being well-thought of so that it would not run contrary to the prevailing ideological directions in the American society at that time which espoused “individual liberty, mobility, economic opportunity and democratic political participation.” Moreover, they can't afford to antagonize the almost certainly envious non-slave obtaining whites that they had to emphasize “white superiority regardless of class.”
The truth from the matter is that behind all these justifications, the genuine motive is money. By 1860, the crop per importance of the slave is $125. Enslaved women improve their importance whenever they give birth to healthy children. A prime field worker which sold for $600 in 1844 can go as high as $1800 following a cotton boom. All items told, what mattered most is that slavery is profitable.
Order your Justifications for the Institution of Slavery during the Antebellum Era essay at Orderessay and get a 100% original and high-quality custom paper within the required time frame.
