Slavery in the 19th Century

Cotton Gin

Cotton and Slavery

Africans in the US, 1860

Nat Turner

Biblical Arguments Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. (Ephesians 6:5 NLT) When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod so hard that the slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished. If, however, the slave survives for a day or two, he is not to be punished, since the slave is his own property. (Exodus 21:20-21 NAB) The servant will be severely punished, for though he knew his duty, he refused to do it. But people who are not aware that they are doing wrong will be punished only lightly. Much is required from those to whom much is given, and much more is required from those to whom much more is given. (Luke 12:47-48 NLT) Curse of Ham

Other Justifications Historical – Greece, Rome, Founding Fathers Paternalism Economic

Southern Society 1% “Great Planters,” 20+ slaves 35-45% Small Farmers, 0-5 slaves 25% Landless Whites 35%, Slaves Economic foundation

Abolitionism US outlawed foreign slave trade in 1808 Britain abolished slavery in 1833, France in 1848 Quakers (Manumission Society) and some Enlightened politicians Uncle Tom’s Cabin, 1851 American Colonization Society, founded Liberia in 1821 Abolitionism

William Lloyd Garrison – Immediate emancipation. 1830s, The Liberator Frederick Douglass – Former slave. Educated. Anti-slavery orator and writer. John Brown Elijah Lovejoy Women’s Rights Key Abolitionists

Moving Forward From 1820 on, slavery became a key issue in US politics Sectional lines were drawn between slave-holding states and free-states The North and South developed different economies and means of production Even as early as the 1840s the concepts of preserving slavery (a “local” Southern concern) and preserving the Union (a national concern) were being discussed Moving Forward