Proponents of slavery relied on an understanding of slavery. Proslavery southerners argued that the book misrepresented slavery by cherry picking the worst examples. Ford douglas and usher linder, a proslavery illinois lawyer whom. They were able to do so effectively because all three of these reasons provide ample support of the peculiar. Although some quakers held slaves, no religious group was more outspoken against slavery from the seventeenth century until slaverys demise. Dumas, in her study of the history of the british proslavery movement, draws a distinction between antiabolitionist and proslavery positions. With an argument that was as much a critique of industrialism as it was a defense of slavery, southern spokesmen contended that chattel slavery, as it was practiced in the american south, was more humane than the system of wage slavery that prevailed in the industrial north and great britain. Proslavery essaysessay twoanalyze the ways in which supporters of slavery in the nineteenth century used legal, religious, and economic arguments to defend the institution of slavery. In the southern slave economy, on the other hand, labor is capital. In a brilliant chapter in the liberal tradition in america louis hartz has placed the political theory of the southern defenders in perspective, and william r.
In the slaves cause, two main points frame your argument. Hartmann, who is described on the internet as a radio host. Oxford university press usa publishes scholarly works in all academic disciplines, bibles, music, childrens books, business books, dictionaries, reference books, journals, text books and more. Smiths fourth and most recent book, the system of liberty, was published by cambridge university press in 20. Antislavery arguments were unpopular, even in the north. History ch 10 proslavery and antislavery arguments. Start studying history ch 10 proslavery and antislavery arguments. Although sense con has stated enough said, slavery was a bad thing. Pro slavery advocates before the civil war the beginning of proslavery arguments occured as a result of the growth of abolitionism robinson 1. Elliott was the editor of cotton is king and proslavery arguments augusta. Supporters of slavery in the 18th century used legal, economic, and religious arguments to defend slavery. Text of the proslavery argument 1832, by thomas dewthomas roderick dew 18021846 was an economist, professor of law, and president of the college of william and mary.
A proslavery argument, 1857 a close reading guide from america in class 2 amount of pay, only to abandon them when they cease to be useful. Also called plantation literature, these writings were generally written by authors from the southern united states. A gentleman planter, writer, and political commentator, he made his greatest contribution as an agricultural reformer, but it was as a militant defender of slavery and champion of the southern cause that he gained his greatest fame. The argument is not that the united states was actually founded in. The proslavery argument in the development of the american methodist church abstract this article discusses the evolution of the methodist church.
Ten reasons not to abolish slavery foundation for economic. Mar 12, 2020 edmund ruffin was one of the most significant figures in the old south. Many of which were caused by new inventions that lead to industrialization, the new constitution. Another pro slavery argument was that slavery was a natural state of mankind since it has existed throughout history. Slavery existed for thousands of years, in all sorts of societies and all parts of the world. The pro slavery argument in the development of the american methodist church abstract this article discusses the evolution of the methodist church. Edmund ruffin was one of the most significant figures in the old south. The fall of the confederacy in the mind of the white christian south hardcover. The proslavery argument in the development of the american. Stantons the leopards spots revealingly analyzes the scientific arguments used to bolster slavery. Lincoln considered himself part of an antislavery movement that also included abolitionists. In the united states there was a heated debate about the morality of slavery.
Comprising the writings of hammond, harper, christy, stringfellow, hodge, bledsoe, and cartwright, on this important subject making of the modern world. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. What are the pros and cons regarding the annexation of texas. It specifically focuses on the way that proslavery views were eventually supported by many members of the church, using the bible to support these beliefs. The debate over slavery michael omalley, associate professor of history and art history, george mason university assignment. Unsurprisingly, the package has received considerable pushback from.
With an argument that was as much a critique of industrialism as it was a defense of slavery, southern spokesmen contended that chattel slavery, as it was practiced in the american south, was more humane than the system of wage slavery that prevailed in the industrial north and great. Wisdom and justice as she commands commerce to stop the trade. The abolition of slavery, a template for contemporary radical. Emergence of immediatism in british and american antislavery thought. Antitom literature consists of the 19th century pro slavery novels and other literary works written in response to harriet beecher stowes uncle toms cabin. As i write in my book, empire of cotton, american slavery and the cotton it. The liberty party, a political action group, held its first national convention, at albany, n. Benjamin lay, a quaker who saw slavery as a notorious sin, addresses this 1737 volume to those who pretend to lay claim to the pure and holy christian religion.
Feb 02, 2012 anti slavery arguments were unpopular, even in the north. This solution was thought to be a compromise between antislavery. Project gutenberg s cotton is king and the proslavery arguments, by various this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. Many supporters in the nineteenth century used religious, legal, and economic arguments to keep minorities down. The defenders of slavery in the south had several arguments that they used to rationalize slavery. However, to say that christianity is pro slavery because of those passages is dishonest, since those passages were addressed to the israelites, not to christians. Document 1 the new confederatesouthern constitution has put at rest, forever, all the agitating questions relating to our institution of african slavery as it exists amongst us the proper status of the negro in our form of civilization. Slaves, of course, do the work of the plantation, but. Donald mathews, in his book slavery and methodism, claims that from. Harper, william, james henry hammond, william gilmore simms on. Abolition, antislavery movements, and the rise of the sectional. Project gutenbergs cotton is king and the proslavery arguments, by various this.
While i agree slavery is an ill moral, the concept of slavery is an economic plus. He demonstrated that arguments to the effect that slavery was a positive good arose before the rise of abolitionism during the 1830s. Choose from 70 different sets of pro slavery argument flashcards on quizlet. Slaves, of course, do the work of the plantation, but they also represent a substantial capital investment. A proslavery argument, 1857 america in class resources. The other three passages from exodus 21 and leviticus 25 can be taken as being pro slavery, but even those had many restrictions that modern slavery did not have. The following arguments were put forth in southern books, pamphlets and newspapers to defend the institution of slavery. Popular history of pro slavery thought books showing 17 of 7 a consuming fire.
To understand the contrasting views of proslavery advocates versus abolitionists in antebellum america, a comparison of the individual positions must be made to further understand the goals of each party. The pro slavery supporters used the bible to suggest that the slave trade was tolerated and approved of by god in the days of abraham. His influential proslavery argument offers theological, historical, and political evidence in a pointbypoint refutation of the antislavery arguments of his day. Get an answer for why were proslavery southerners eager to push for further expansion in nicaragua, cuba, and other areas in the 1850s. Cotton is king, and proslavery arguments 1860 edition. The relations of american slavery to the industrial interests of our own country.
Author richard reddie writes about the atlantic slave trade, how the bible. One argument was that ending slavery would destroy the economy in the south. Proslavery advocates before the civil war the beginning of proslavery arguments occured as a result of the growth of abolitionism robinson 1. Southern arguments for slavery essay 453 words bartleby. The answer lies in an understanding of the difference between the arguments made by supporters of slavery versus those opposed to it. Yet, from time to time, eccentrics emerged to oppose it, most of them arguing that slavery is a moral monstrosity and therefore people should get rid of it. My first book was on proslavery ideology, on states rights theory, and secession. Ten reasons not to abolish slavery by robert higgs duration. Smith discusses some early justifications of slavery and how they repudiated natural rights. Why did it take a civil war to finally settle the slavery question once and for all. Calhoun gave a speech promoting the positive good outcomes of slavery while also declaring slavery was instead of an evil, a good a positive good the proslavery argument. The religious defense of american slavery before 1830 larry. Over the course of more than two centuries, millions of americans were.
Aside from the paternalistic argument offered earlier, the narrative of the life of frederick douglass made numerous other claims that discredited the proslavery ideology. Text of the proslavery argument 1832, by thomas dew. The pro slavery lobby put forward a number of arguments to defend the trade and show how important it was to britain. While the abolitionists argued for the immediate end of slavery, proslavery forces worked to justify the institution of slavery. Critics of abolition argued that it contradicted the u. As far as morals are concerned, its widely excepted in todays society that slavery is wrong. Here is a selection of documents from both sides of the slavery debate. The abolitionist movement was the effort to end slavery, led by. Antitom literature consists of the 19th century proslavery novels and other literary works written in response to harriet beecher stowes uncle toms cabin.
Fitzhugh calls on many english thinkers and writers to shape his arguments in cannibals all. I want to talk about two recent entries in this literature. A gentleman planter, writer, and political commentator, he made his greatest contribution as an agricultural reformer, but it was as a militant defender of slavery and champion of the southern cause that he. Tise challenged this common belief about proslavery arguments. This was the immediate cause of the late rupture and pr. Major points of the pro slavery argument free essays. The root recently thom hartmann published an essay on truthout titled the second amendment was ratified to preserve slavery. The book s essays, written by leading southern politicians, attorneys, and theologians, argued that slavery was a humane and truly christian institution, economically productive and justified by scripture. The book owes both its title and much of its intellectual foundation to the british social critic and historian thomas carlyle. The first element of this biblical defense of slavery was the concept of divine decree, that is, through the curse of cain god had decreed slavery before it. They did not spring up suddenly in response to the unrelenting attacks of abolitionists. Why were proslavery southerners eager to push for further.
Slavery and state rights, economies and ways of life. Ten reasons not to abolish slavery by robert higgs. To imagine human social life without it required an extraordinary effort. Antiabolition arguments in this period focused on defects in the abolitionist platform, emphasising the illegal, illogical, inhumane, or profrench nature of their aims. The first national antislavery convention was held in new york city in 1837, and the following year the second antislavery convention of american women met in philadelphia. Karl marx will use many of these same sources and arguments in. In a book by an unknown author the negro and the free born briton compared. He also published another book entitled sociology for the south. The fallacy of the book, it is explained, consists in making cotton and slavery. Probing at the very core of the american political consciousness from the colonial period through the early republic. Ten books on slavery you need to read politico magazine. The other three passages from exodus 21 and leviticus 25 can be taken as being proslavery, but even those had many restrictions that modern slavery did not have. As maintained by the most distinguished writers of the southern states. The most accessible original sources i discovered were the collection of essays in the reprinted book, cotton is king and proslavery arguments, first published in 1860,16 and the banner of truth reprints of the writin of robert lewis.
It specifically focuses on the way that pro slavery views were eventually supported by many members of the church, using the bible to support these beliefs. Nov 18, 2009 slavery existed for thousands of years, in all sorts of societies and all parts of the world. Get an answer for what are the pros and cons regarding the annexation of texas. The act of employing to the greatest possible advantage. Why, in the midnineteenth century, did it become so difficult to remove slavery from the fabric of american society. The proslavery lobby put forward a number of arguments to defend the trade and show how important it was to britain.
However, to say that christianity is proslavery because of those passages is dishonest, since those passages were addressed to the israelites, not to christians. Proslavery southerners argued that the book misrepresented slavery by cherrypicking the worst examples. Antiabolition arguments in this period focused on defects in the abolitionist platform, emphasising the illegal, illogical, inhumane, or pro french nature of their aims. Cotton is king represented an attempt to refute arguments like those of hinton rowan helper. Opinion slavery was not a secondary part of our history the.
How did proponents of slavery in antebellum america defend it as a positive good. Work done under harsh conditions for little or no pay. Rare book and special collections division, library of congress 32. Cotton is king, and proslavery arguments comprising the writings of hammond, harper, christy, stringfellow, hodge, bledsoe, and cartwright, on this important subject.
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