Alexander H Andhens The Cornerstone Speech

Alexander H. Stephens was born on February 11, 1812. His parents died while he was fourteen, so he went to live with his uncle General Aaron Greer. He then graduated from Franklin University now known as Georgia University and went on to become politician starting his career in Whig party. Alexander cornerstone speech was followed by the secession of the state of Georgia form the Union. The cornerstone speech marks one of the reason for secession. During the time he gave “Cornerstone Speech” he was Vice president of the Confederate US. According to Stephens, the cornerstone of the confederacy was slavery and black inferiority. When the confederate US was formed, new constitution was also formed. The new constitution preserved all the essentials …show more content…
The new constitution that confederate formed had put it to rest, everything relating to black people rights. The status of black people was of a slave in the new constitution. The confederate would never treat black people equal, rather they were property to be owned. Stephens believed that “the Northerners were attempting to make things equal which the Creator had made unequal.(1)” Stephens believed that Union wants to topple the natural order which places Negro as subordinates and slave to white people. He assumed that Black people position is naturally imposed, and they cannot have the rights and privileges like white man. Along with Stephen many people in the south believed that, the state economy depended on slave labor; and by ending slavery it would bring disaster in their economy. People in the south did not wanted slavery to end, and these people were his audience while he was delivering the speech, so he said what the people wanted to hear and thus they supported …show more content…
The cornerstone speech gave them a boost to hate black people even more. The confederate states were leaving the union in order to protect the slavery. They were so willing to protect slavery that when there was the election to secede they won by a large difference. Stephens clearly articulated the views of the south by mentioning in speech “Our new government was founded on slavery. Its foundation are laid, its cornerstone rests, upon the great truth that the Negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery, submission to the superior race is his natural and normal condition.(2)” All class of white people in confederate hated the idea of ending slavery, so all of them hated the idea of Abraham Lincoln. Every southerner including rich and poor white men were benefiting from them. Northern farmer had to pay for the farmers whereas southerner exploited slavery for farming and had total control over them. Even the poor white men who didn’t own slave also wanted to keep it because the peculiar institution ensured that they didn’t fall to the bottom rung of the social ladder. So, all white population of confederate were hostile towards Abraham