Pro Slavery Debate It is easy to argue against slavery--no modern American would have any trouble arguing against slavery. It is harder to recapture how Americans defended slavery. It is also surprising.

The Bible nowhere explicitly condemns slavery, but allowed a regulated practice of it, especially under the Old Testament. Male Israelite slaves were to be offered release after six years of service, with some stipulations. Foreign slaves and their children became the perpetual property of the owner's family. God’s chosen people, the Israelites, were slaveholders Religious Reasons

Christ never spoke against it Paul supported it in his Letters. "Tell slaves to be submissive to their masters and to give satisfaction in every respect; they are not to talk back, not to pilfer, but to show complete and perfect fidelity, so that in everything they may be an ornament to the doctrine of God our Savior.” Religious Reasons

Human institutions are, by definition, flawed Edmund Ruffin “The Political Economy of Slavery” “…one [missionary] in the midst of the vast desert of African ignorance and barbarism, could have produced but slight and transient benefits. But if there were hundreds or thousands of such plantations, settled and cultivated by white masters and negro slaves, the owners…would work more for the spreading of the Christian religion than…ten times their number of mere preaching missionaries…” Religious Reasons

Slavery enabled the founding of the American Republic 4 out of first 5 presidents were slaveholders from Virginia George Washington Thomas Jefferson James Madison James Monroe Slavery was practiced in every ancient culture: Egyptian, Babylonian, Greek, Roman, and Israelite. Slavery was an integral part of ancient commerce, taxation, and temple religion. Historical Reasons

(excerpted from Fitzhugh’s Sociology for the South, 1854) Negroes are like children. They need to be guarded by parents. Democracy is not for uneducated children and never has been. The Negro is improvident (not prudent and unwise) The Negro race is inferior. They must be protected from the competitive structure of American society. Sociological Reasons

(excerpted from Fitzhugh’s Sociology for the South, 1854) Africa is worse. In Africa people are uncivilized, non-Christian savages. The North is uncivilized (like Africa) and would crush the Negro through unfair competition. Workers in England are treated worse than the Southern Negro. Slavery is honorable. Women, children and apprentices are also slaves. Society depends on the sacrifices of these groups. Sociological Reasons

(excerpted from Fitzhugh’s Sociology for the South, 1854) Negroes could not buy land. Without land they would perish. Slavery is more benevolent than it once was. The lot of the Southern slave has much improved since the early years. Slaves are fed and clothed. Can you say that for the “free” laborer of the North? Some form of a caste system is a global historical truth. Let us stop pretending that we are all to be equal. Such has never been the case and it never will be. Sociological Reasons

(excerpted from Fitzhugh’s Sociology for the South, 1854) Human progress will be advanced by Negro slavery. Negro slavery will prevent from white slavery. The entire economic structure depends upon a subservient class. To even attempt to educate blacks would cost the government a fortune and would be wasted money. Southern slavery prevents the South from becoming dependant upon the North. We can make laws instituting humanity in slavery. The Southerner is the Negroes only friend. Sociological Reasons

The sudden end to the slave economy would have had a profound and killing economic impact in the South. The cotton economy would collapse. The tobacco crop would dry in the fields. Rice would cease being profitable. Economic Reasons

If all the slaves were freed, there would be widespread unemployment and chaos. This would lead to uprisings, bloodshed, and anarchy. Example: the mob's "rule of terror" during the French Revolution. Social Order Reasons

Citizens of states should have the right to decide if they want to have slavery or not, NOT the federal government. The Supreme Court declared that slaves are not citizens and are therefore not protected as such. Constitutional Reasons

STATES’ RIGHTS is to the Civil War as NATURAL RIGHTS is to the American Revolution Quickwrite Explain the meaning.