Slavery Institution in the 19th century
Slavery existed in both the North and South of America during the 18th century. As the North became increasingly industrialized and urbanized, there was less demand for slaves. Different from the North, the South vastly depended on slaves to work on the cotton plantations. The industrialization of the North and the rapid growth of cotton industry in the South divided the nation during the 19th century. It was a regional issue that both sides increasingly disagreed on the issue of abolishing slavery in the United States. Some Northerners viewed slavery as a moral issue, which it was seen as a sin to enslave people. Whereas, many Southerners defended slavery and argued that it was an economic issue, which …show more content…
As planters expanded their lands and purchased more lands, they would expect to gain more products. Therefore, slaves were frequently demanded to work from early morning to late night. Due to these inhumane workloads and long hours of working, many slaves tried to escape from their slaveholders. To resolve the problem of depriving their valuable properties, many slaveholders allowed their slaves to marry because they believed that it could prevent a slave from running away. Despite the high possibility of breaking up slave families, family formation helped owners to make more production and avoid disobedience. In other words, slaves’ marriage would make slaves more likely to obey their owners’ instruction as well as remain as their slaveholders’ …show more content…
One of the most famous revolts during the 19th century was led by Nat Turner. He was an enslaved black man who led a rebellion of slaves to justify their position against slavery. He claimed that he had religious visions and was chosen by God to lead slaves freeing themselves from bondage (Gray). On August 22, 1831, Turner and his band had successfully killed at least fifty white people in Southampton County, Virginia (“American Yawp: The Cotton Revolution”). However, Turner and those slaves were later being executed. Although the revolt frightened many white southerners, it was used as a reason to continue slavery system. George Fitzhugh, an American social theorist, was one of the slavery supporters. He advocated slavery and claimed that it was beneficial to both slaves and slaveholders. Fitzhugh explained that Negros were inferior to White people and needed protection from being enslaved. He even mentioned that “a state of dependence is (…) the only situation in which the war of competition ceases, and peace, amity, and good will arise” (Fitzhugh). His argument indicates that the slavery institution helped to establish a peaceful and productive society as well as maintain the White supremacy in the United States. With this in mind, even though abolitionists wanted to help slaves to regain their freedom, they still viewed black slaves as the lower
Slavery existed in both the North and South of America during the 18th century. As the North became increasingly industrialized and urbanized, there was less demand for slaves. Different from the North, the South vastly depended on slaves to work on the cotton plantations. The industrialization of the North and the rapid growth of cotton industry in the South divided the nation during the 19th century. It was a regional issue that both sides increasingly disagreed on the issue of abolishing slavery in the United States. Some Northerners viewed slavery as a moral issue, which it was seen as a sin to enslave people. Whereas, many Southerners defended slavery and argued that it was an economic issue, which …show more content…
As planters expanded their lands and purchased more lands, they would expect to gain more products. Therefore, slaves were frequently demanded to work from early morning to late night. Due to these inhumane workloads and long hours of working, many slaves tried to escape from their slaveholders. To resolve the problem of depriving their valuable properties, many slaveholders allowed their slaves to marry because they believed that it could prevent a slave from running away. Despite the high possibility of breaking up slave families, family formation helped owners to make more production and avoid disobedience. In other words, slaves’ marriage would make slaves more likely to obey their owners’ instruction as well as remain as their slaveholders’ …show more content…
One of the most famous revolts during the 19th century was led by Nat Turner. He was an enslaved black man who led a rebellion of slaves to justify their position against slavery. He claimed that he had religious visions and was chosen by God to lead slaves freeing themselves from bondage (Gray). On August 22, 1831, Turner and his band had successfully killed at least fifty white people in Southampton County, Virginia (“American Yawp: The Cotton Revolution”). However, Turner and those slaves were later being executed. Although the revolt frightened many white southerners, it was used as a reason to continue slavery system. George Fitzhugh, an American social theorist, was one of the slavery supporters. He advocated slavery and claimed that it was beneficial to both slaves and slaveholders. Fitzhugh explained that Negros were inferior to White people and needed protection from being enslaved. He even mentioned that “a state of dependence is (…) the only situation in which the war of competition ceases, and peace, amity, and good will arise” (Fitzhugh). His argument indicates that the slavery institution helped to establish a peaceful and productive society as well as maintain the White supremacy in the United States. With this in mind, even though abolitionists wanted to help slaves to regain their freedom, they still viewed black slaves as the lower