1. Based on your assessment of the reading what is the main objection of the Free Soil Party to slavery?
Different people and groups had diverse reasons for wanting slavery to be contained. From the Free Soil Party Platform declaration, the group wanted an end to slavery because they desired a union of free people. They contended that the Congress had no power to establish slavery in the same way they had no power to establish a kingdom. Their arguments were based on the constitution and the declaration of freedom. Citing the constitution, they noted that the politicians had no power to create laws legalizing slavery (Free Soil Party Platform). They also noted that the Federal government had no power to influence the policies ate the state …show more content…
Another notion is that the South was agriculturally richer than the North and thus more productive due to slaves. In the article, Helper notes that these notions could not be further from the truth (Helper 40). The statistics show that the North outperformed the South despite lack of slaves working on their lands. For instance, while the Free states produced a total of approximately 499 million bushels costing an approximated amount of $352 million, the South produced approximately 482 million bushels costing approximately $307 million, a difference of approximately $45 million (Helper 39). According to excerpt, slavery was to blame for lack of progress in the South. The difference in production and value of the goods produced is significant in showing that slavery had a negative impact on the South. It becomes clear that concentrating on slavery rather than agriculture was the South’s undoing. The other states were doing better because they only had their agriculture to worry …show more content…
He tells them that they have a responsibility when they return home to feel deeply for the slaves. He refers to slavery as a form of “evil” that all those who profess their love for God should shun (Mott 14). He notes that slavery is an “iniquity” that those with conviction should help purge from the country (Mott 15). In a way, Mott is using the scriptures to show his audience that slavery is forbidden. He is using them to convince them that since they believe in the Bible, then they should not be part of slavery. As much as some of his audience left, those who stayed listened to Nott till the end when he urged them to maintain
Different people and groups had diverse reasons for wanting slavery to be contained. From the Free Soil Party Platform declaration, the group wanted an end to slavery because they desired a union of free people. They contended that the Congress had no power to establish slavery in the same way they had no power to establish a kingdom. Their arguments were based on the constitution and the declaration of freedom. Citing the constitution, they noted that the politicians had no power to create laws legalizing slavery (Free Soil Party Platform). They also noted that the Federal government had no power to influence the policies ate the state …show more content…
Another notion is that the South was agriculturally richer than the North and thus more productive due to slaves. In the article, Helper notes that these notions could not be further from the truth (Helper 40). The statistics show that the North outperformed the South despite lack of slaves working on their lands. For instance, while the Free states produced a total of approximately 499 million bushels costing an approximated amount of $352 million, the South produced approximately 482 million bushels costing approximately $307 million, a difference of approximately $45 million (Helper 39). According to excerpt, slavery was to blame for lack of progress in the South. The difference in production and value of the goods produced is significant in showing that slavery had a negative impact on the South. It becomes clear that concentrating on slavery rather than agriculture was the South’s undoing. The other states were doing better because they only had their agriculture to worry …show more content…
He tells them that they have a responsibility when they return home to feel deeply for the slaves. He refers to slavery as a form of “evil” that all those who profess their love for God should shun (Mott 14). He notes that slavery is an “iniquity” that those with conviction should help purge from the country (Mott 15). In a way, Mott is using the scriptures to show his audience that slavery is forbidden. He is using them to convince them that since they believe in the Bible, then they should not be part of slavery. As much as some of his audience left, those who stayed listened to Nott till the end when he urged them to maintain