Slavery in the 1840s Essay - 746 Words

Slavery was always a controversial issue in America. Many people saw slavery as an essential part of life in every aspect, while others saw it as immoral and an injustice to humanity. In the 1840s when Manifest Destiny started to thrive, things began to heat up. New territories meant a possibility for a new slave or free state in America. Because the new territories were allowed the right of popular sovereignty to determine whether they would have slaves or not, abolitionists and non-abolitionists were at a constant battle to gain a new state. Abolitionists wanted slavery diminished in America all together. They gave several arguments to prove their point on why slavery should be abolished. Firstly they stated that slavery was†¦show more content†¦While Abolitionists argued their points, Pro-slavery groups gave very good rebuttals. Economically they argued that the end to slavery would kill the economy in the south. Without slaves in the fields collecting and caring for the produce, everything would collapse. Cotton, tobacco, and rice would all fail in the economy and the south would be in economic ruin. Another point pro-slavery people argued was what would happen if slaves were to be let free. They stated that if they were freed, unemployment would rise and there would be an abundance of chaos. All of this would lead to uprisings and bloodshed. Yet another argument that the defenders of slavery used was influenced with history. They claimed that slavery had been a part of history for so long and had become a natural state of mankind. History showed that Greeks, Romans, and English (until recently) had slaves and as such it was a part of human nature. Pro-slavery groups, like Abolitionists, also used religion and the bible as an argument. According to the bible Abraham had slaves, Paul returned a run-away slave in the New Testament, and Jesus never spoke out about slavery though it was widespread. Also non-Abolitionists argued that slaves were better cared for compared to factory workers in the North and the poor people of Europe. They indicated that slave owners would protect and help their slaves when they became sick or aged, unlike others who were left helplessly to fend forShow MoreRelatedâ€Å"Slavery Was the Dominating Reality in Southern Life.†Ã‚   Assess the Validity of This Generalization for Two of the Following Aspects of Southern Life from About 1840-1860:   Political, Social, Economic, and Intellectual Life.889 Words   |  4 Pagesperiod of 1840 and 1860, slavery played an influential and pivotal role in the development of a new southern lifestyle. In the struggle for dominance in America, slavery was the South’s stronghold and the underlying cause in much of their motives for many of the economic instigations along with the affirmative political actions. By dominating the everyday southerner’s life, slavery also dominated the economic and political aspects of life during the height of the slavery period. By the 1840’s the SouthernRead MoreEssay on Slavery Is The South682 Words   |  3 Pages Slavery is the South Essay #3 Slavery played a dominating and critical role in much of Southern life. In the struggle for control in America, slavery was the South’s stronghold and the hidden motive behind many political actions and economic statistics. By dominating Southern life, slavery also dominated the economic and political aspects of life in the South from 1840 to 1860. By the 1840’s and 50’s the Southern economy had almost completely become slave and cash crop agriculture based. WithoutRead MoreThe Abolition Movement1079 Words   |  4 Pagesof racial segregation and discrimination. Their idea of these goals distinguished abolitionists from the broad-based political opposition to slavery’s westward expansion that started in the North after 1840 and raised issues leading to the Civil War. Yet, these two expressions of hostility to slavery were often closely related not only in their beliefs and their interaction but also in the minds of southern s laveholders who finally came to consider the North as united against them in favor of blackRead More Slavery Essay915 Words   |  4 PagesSlavery Slavery is a social institution defined by law and custom as the most absolute involuntary form of human servitude. England entered the slave trade in the latter half of the 16th century. In 1713 the exclusive right to supply the Spanish colonies was granted to the British South Sea Company. The English based their trading in the North America. In North America the first African slaves landed at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619. Brought by early English privateers, they were subjected toRead More Abolition Essay870 Words   |  4 Pageseradicate slavery using a wide range of tactics and organizations. The antislavery movement mobilized many African Americans and some whites who sought to end the institution of slavery. Although both black and white abolitionists often worked together, the relationship between them was intricate. The struggle for black abolitionists was much more personal because they wanted to end slavery and also wanted to gain equal rights for blacks. However, many w hite abolitionists only sought to end slavery andRead MoreThe Fundamental Diffferences Between the Black Abolitionists and the White Abolitionists Movements1592 Words   |  7 PagesAbolitionists and the White Abolitionists Movements Black and white abolitionists shared common assumptions about the evil of slavery, the virtue of moral reform, and the certainty of human progress(1). Schor, Garnet,1877, Lanngston, 1989). This shared understanding provided the basic for the interracial solidarity and cooperation so vital in the crusade against slavery(2). (Schor and Garnet, 1877). But blacks also brought a distinct perspective to the antislavery movement. Their abolitionismRead MoreManifest Design, By Thomas R. Hietala1128 Words   |  5 Pagesfurthermore what to do with it once it becomes a state. Thomas R. Hietala’s, Manifest Design, is set in the 1840s, explaining America’s idea of Manifest Destiny and how that effected American commerce, territory, policy and etc. Though America struggled with gaining territory in the west Hietala’s arguments mainly focus on the debate to annex Texas. Expanding U.S. territories during the 1840s was driven by Americas desire not only to acquire more land but also for ports, markets and more secure boundariesRead MoreThe Fundamental Diffferences Between The Black Abolitionists And The White Abolitionists Movements1547 Words   |  7 PagesAbolitionists and the White Abolitionists Movements Black and white abolitionists shared common assumptions about the evil of slavery, the virtue of moral reform, and the certainty of human progress(1). Schor, Garnet,1877, Lanngston, 1989). This shared understanding provided the basic for the interracial solidarity and cooperation so vital in the crusade against slavery(2). (Schor and Garnet, 1877). But blacks also brought a distinct perspective to the antislavery movement. Their abolitionismRead MoreThe Science Behind Race1185 Words   |  5 PagesProlonged and Profited from Slavery the authors delve into the complexity and the dependency of the American economy on the free labor system pre and post Civil War. Providing compelling evidence of the North’s involvement in slavery well beyond the Southern cotton industry. In addition, Complicity provides the narrative of how the concept of â€Å"race† evolved in America. Slavery and racism are interwoven throughout U.S. history however they are distinctly different slav ery was a labor system whereasRead MoreThe Evolution of American Democracy1440 Words   |  6 Pagescitizenship applied exclusively to white men. In the midÂâ€"19th century, these men went to the polls in record numbers. The election of 1828 attracted 1.2 million voters; that number jumped to 1.5 million in 1836 and to 2.4 million in 1840. Turnout of eligible voters by 1840 was well over 60 percentÂâ€"higher than it had ever been, and much higher than it is now. (Remini, 1998) At the same time, however, popular political activity other than voting declined. Judging by available evidence, state and national