J.D.B. De Bow was an economist, editor, and proponent of Southern industrialization in the mid-19th century. In his essay "The Non-slaveholders of the South," published in 1860, De Bow sought to defend the institution of slavery and address criticisms of the system. De Bow argued that non-slaveholding white Southerners were not disadvantaged by the existence of slavery. Instead, he claimed that slavery provided economic opportunities for non-slaveholding whites, particularly in the agricultural sector. He argued that slavery created a demand for goods and services that benefited all members of Southern society. De Bow also claimed that the North was dependent on the South's agricultural exports, and therefore, Southern slaveholders were essential …show more content…
At that time, tensions between the North and South were high over issues such as states' rights and the expansion of slavery into new territories. In his essay, De Bow sought to defend the institution of slavery and counter criticisms of the system. This was a common argument among pro-slavery advocates in the South at the time, as they saw the institution as essential to their way of life and economic prosperity. Olsen's book, "The American Civil War: A Hands on History," provides additional context for understanding De Bow's essay. The book explores the economic, social, and political factors that contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War, including the sectional tensions between the North and South, the rise of abolitionism, and the impact of slavery on American society. By understanding this historical context, we can better understand the motivations and perspective of De Bow and other pro-slavery advocates. We can see how they saw themselves as defending the interests of the South against perceived threats from the North, and how they used arguments about the economic benefits of slavery to justify the institution. At the same time, understanding the broader context of the Civil War helps us recognize the limitations of De Bow's perspective. It also helps us recognize the ways in which people, like De Bow, were shaped by the events, attitudes, and climate of their
This paper will examine the interview of General Washington Dukes, or his nickname Wash Dukes. This interview took place in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. This paper will also describe his as a slave and the difficulties he faced. His story will explain the hardships slaves endured before and after the Civil war. This paper argues that slaves were not free before and after the civil war as a result they could not make their own decisions and vote during the early 1900’s.
Washington was joined by slaves while leading the Continental Army in the field of battle, as well as during his time as president. Yet Wiencek also argues that the Revolution and the establishment of the new democracy changed Washington’s beliefs on slavery. By the end of his life, Washington had changed completely and “sickened by slavery, willing to sacrifice his own substance to end it.” (Wiencek 274) Many of the founding fathers recognized the problems created by slavery.
Hammond to sum up his article states that “the question is, whether free or slave labor is the cheapest to us in this country . . . we cannot avail ourselves of any other than slave labor”. After arguing that the economy would advance from getting rid of owning slaves Hammond then ends his argument with a wishy washy statement saying that the United States might not even be ready to only have free labor. He continues to go on by saying “we must therefore, content ourselves with our dear labor”, implying that although he thinks they could benefit he all together has given in to owning them. He contradicts his economic advantages and the idea of banning slavery making his statement poor and counterproductive to persuade the South into letting their slaves free.
On March 4, 1858, Senator James Henry Hammond from South Carolina, delivered a compelling speech. He encompassed a variety of thoughts into his speech to reflect how slavery existed in the South which benefitted countries in Europe. As a matter of fact, he wanted to present the speech to the Senate to show how much work the slaves did to provide the world’s top leading crop, cotton. Senator Hammond explains how the land to grow cotton is enough and no one ought to raise a war about it. The rhetorical strategies he uses within his speech are personification, syntax, and diction to make his statement equitable.
Throughout the war, Slavery was the main key that brought more problems to intensify the start of the war between the north and the south. To demonstrate in the textbook, “The Americans”, the author states that, “Most white southerners also feared that an end to their entire way of life was at hand. Many were desperate for
During the mid 1800’s ‘the controversy over the extension of slavery into western territories played a significant role in the coming of the Civil War. The issue of slavery had been a source of conflict in the United States since the country was founded, and tensions had been mounting in the decades leading up to the civil war. Issues that helped fuel this conflict was fighting between the states that wanted to decide whether a certain state were to be a slave state or not. This included states that were bought after the battles in Texas against Mexico. Along with this certain compromises were questions such as the Kansas Nebraska Act and the Compromise.
Frederick Douglass, who was a towering figure of the abolitionist movement, initially believed the United States Constitution was pro-slavery. In Douglass’s article written in 1849, he enumerates the Article 1, section 2 to explain the clause of three fifth is just to compromise on the huge amount of slaveries but not for giving slavery with practical power. Afterward, he changed his view that a black man is indeed worth a complete person in a free State. Moreover, Douglass argues that the first article, ninth section of the Constitution is an authorization of the slave trade over twenty years. However, Williams points out that Douglass claims the Constitution is not encouraging slavery, whereas it is encouraging to gain freedom which means
However, Douglass points out the hypocrisy of these figures, many of whom were slave owners themselves. This paradox challenges the traditional narratives of American history that portray these individuals as virtuous champions of freedom. While they were instrumental in shaping the nation's foundational principles and promoting ideas of democracy and liberty, their simultaneous ownership of slaves raises ethical concerns and exposes the complexities and contradictions within the nation's
He writes about, “boyhood dreaming about Confederate glory,” and confesses that he is “still hit with a profound sadness when I read over the material on which this study is based” (Dew, 2). He believes a lot of people are still being misled to believe that this cause should be glorified, when in reality, it was meant to restrict freedom and human rights. Charles Dew’s Apostles of Disunion is intended to end the discussion on whether or not the South's primary goal in 1861 was to defend its slave-based culture. The book allows all of us who struggle with myth of states’ freedom and rights as the cause of the war to critically analyze the part that race played in the war. It is an effective way to allow students and scholars alike to confront the role of slavery, white supremacy, and racism in the mind of the Old South and the popular movement for
In the early to mid 1800s, there were debates between political parties, social groups, people with different ways of life, and more. The goal of these debates varied from wanting to get laws passed, wanting certain taboos to be eliminated, or just wanting to be left alone. However, these debates always sought to get the other side to agree, which almost never happened. In the 1830 to 1860 era, debates over slavery weren’t the most important factors that led to the Civil War. The most significant factors that led to the American Civil War were political, economic, and social issues of the time; the debates over slavery, at this time, were not the most important things that people of that era had to worry about.
The fate of their country by Michael Holt is a book made up of 3 to 4 sections, titled Pandora's Box, The Wilmot Proviso, The Compromise of 1850, The Kansas-Nebraska Act. Author Michael Holt examines what caused the Civil War and the Pandora’s Box of sectional dissent territorial slavery issue over slavery into all current and future western territories also the Missouri crisis debate. It wasn’t slavery per the book but the debates about the extension of slavery into new territories and states that sent the nation careening into civil war, argues writer Michael Holt. He gives his readers an analysis of the partisan political forces, on the great debate over the extension of slavery into the American West.
Debates over slavery in the period from 1830 to 1860 played a significant role in leading the United States into the Civil War. The issue of slavery was a major source of tension between the northern and southern states, and it was a key factor in the rising tensions between the two regions. The northern states were largely anti-slavery, and many abolitionists were active in calling for the immediate end of slavery. In contrast, the southern states were largely pro-slavery, and many slaveholders were deeply committed to maintaining the institution of slavery. One of the major debates that contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War was the question of whether slavery should be allowed in the territories acquired by the United States.
The American historian Nell Painter made several comments regarding the importance of land for the freed slaves. For example: “So they (sharecroppers) saw their own land as a means of having a stake in society” (Painter para. 4). Some more proof of this is the fact that it’s also stated that due to most southerners being rural, owning land was crucial to their way of life (para. 4). The evidence shows that white farmers who formerly owned slaves felt that by allowing the slaves to own land made them independent took away a resource the farmers heavily relied upon: slave labor.
He explains that a lack of perspective and superficial analysis meant that the constructive accomplishments of the Civil War era had been ignored . Essentially, “the two-dimensional characters that Dunning’s followers highlighted” reflects exaggeration and a failure to acknowledge the abolitionists’ efforts as “the last great crusade of the nineteenth century romantic reformers.” In additional Some of Stamps works have also focused on the idea of a ‘guilt theory’ where he details that the political impacts of succession during the Civil War era resulted in southern defeat due to an “internal collapse of morale among southerners.” However the plausibility of this argument remains questionable due to stamps lack of empirical evidence.
One of the strategies Douglass uses to convince his audience slavery should be abolished is by “calling out American hypocrisy in his Fourth of July oration” (Mercieca 1). He shames them with no remorse. He speaks on the opposite treatments that enable whites to live in a state of freedom and liberty, while the blacks are living in a state of bondage. As the audience listens, he reminds them, there are men, women and children still held hostages to the chains of