A prominent argument in favor of slavery was that if African Americans received equality is all senses of the word, there would be mass unemployment with millions more added to the free labor work force. However, this argument held no long term consequence due to the increased ability for specialization (creation of more specific jobs).
Another argument for slavery that the southerners contended was that it was an institution throughout history. They believed that the greeks used slavery, as well did the romans. However this argument was put aside due the presently surrounding powerful countries having already abolished slavery.
A large portion of the pro slavery defense rested in religion. Many southerners used the bible in defense of their societal values. In fact, many referenced the ten commandments which noted that, "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, ... nor his manservant, nor his maidservant". Many northerners refused this morally evil usage of the bible, and claimed the verses dated or unrelated.
One of the more creative thoughts regarding slavery was that slavery was in fact more luxurious than the white Americans free labor society. John C Calhoun stated that, "Never before has the black race of Central Africa, from the dawn of history to the present day, attained a condition so civilized and so improved, not only physically, but morally and intellectually." this argument essentially states that slaves have a better life due to their lack of American greed, only being exposed to a single path offers a more content life that that of numerous opportunities. This argument was not only refuted by northerners but by slaves themselves as they were abused and poorly housed through their lives.
http://www.ushistory.org/us/27f.asp
This is an interesting post that I will definitely think of when people ask why slavery lasted so long! You mentioned that one proslavery argument was that other nations have used it throughout history. My question is how other countries in the Western Hemisphere compared to the USA's slavery, and how religious views changed the institution in the Americas. Protestant clergymen in America actually defended the institution in the early 1800s, encouraging a Christian hierarchy in which slaves should obey their masters. Catholicism, on the other hand, prohibits slavery under the Seventh Commandment, but the Catholic Church ironically allowed slavery for centuries all over the world, including in Latin America. So, it seems that human instinct triumphed over religious beliefs, showing how proslavery persisted in Latin America despite people believing it was bad deep down. Meanwhile, Southern Americans tried to paint it as something good and liberating for both blacks and whites -- denying that anything is wrong in the first place!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a7.htm
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/slavery/experience/religion/history2.html
https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/origins-slavery/resources/american-slavery-comparative-perspective
Nice post! Considering the fact that slavery was so integral to the Southern economy, it is interesting to consider how emancipation and the economy are correlated. Though you mentioned that emancipation had no long-term effect on the economy, I think it can be much more complex of an issue to consider the economic motives of emancipation. I think there is significant evidence that shows that in part, Lincoln's emancipation proclamation was an attempt to weaken the South economically. If the South had actually listened and freed their slaves, their primarily agrarian economy would be severely weakened. However, because almost no one in the south listened to the Emancipation Proclamation, the economic aspect of it had little to no effect.
ReplyDeletehttp://historycooperative.org/effects-emancipation-proclamation/
Cool post! I thought you did a really great job showing the relationship between emancipation and also the eocnomic impacts. You said "there would be mass unemployment with millions more added to the free labor work force" once the slaves would be freed, which is a really great point. With free blacks moving to the North, there would be obvious competition for jobs and factory positions. As a result, I think this addition to the workforce would help to spur more industrial output. I thought it was also interesting that you mentioned history and religion being a motivating idea behind preserving slavery. It is so crazy- that even in this relatively modern age, Southerners felt the need to reference a Greek and Roman republican society thousands of years earlier. Especially one with a consulate system... Your post does a great job highlighting some of the issues between the North and South even much after the Civil War.
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