Why doesn’t slavery die out naturally?
“All men are created equal” but... Some slaves freed, others escape because of Am Rev Western land opens up Cotton Gin New markets for slave-produced goods Nice to always have someone worse off than you are
Moral and religious excuses Bible says its okay Jesus doesn’t say anything against it Evangelize, convert Better life in US than in Africa Blacks like children, not ready for freedom
Can’t get rid of it Fear of retaliation Fear of economic competition Fear of loss of cheap labor supply Fear of loss of freedom for whites – whites will begin to be employed by others to do necessary work, and lose independence OUR FREEDOM IS DEPENDENT ON THE ENSLAVEMENT OF OTHERS
Better than industrial sector Factory work is worse than slavery – bosses don’t care for workers Actually makes more profit Panic of 1857 hits North hard, but South not at all (world cotton prices steady) “Cotton is King”