Although it was generally acknowledged that the practice of slavery was a peculiar institution, many southerns in favor of slavery felt justified in their beliefs due to the potentially positive ramifications of slavery. Many of the dominant nations throughout history, such as ancient Greece and Rome, had engaged in the practice of slavery. Southerners also tended to point out the hypocrisy of antislavery northerners by highlighting the inhumane conditions which factory workers were accustomed to. Those in favor of slavery often attempted to manipulate the text of the Bible in order to support their cause, and proclaimed slavery as their religious responsibility to evangelize the heathens. As the message of the pro slavery argument
