Slavery Was A Justified Institution - 889 Words

Slavery was a justified institution in America during most of the 19th century with those supporting it arguing it was a positive good and an economic stabilizer. Southern whites were dependent on slave labor for their economy and were willing to fight, by any means necessary, in order to keep the right to own slaves. Proslavery whites launched a defensive against slavery, which included referring to the Constitution as fair legal justification for their practices, stating the Bible supported it as did the philosophy of the highly respected Aristotle. Southern whites used moral and biblical rationalization through religion, the Constitution and economic disaster to support their opinion of slavery being a justified institution. Proslavery whites believe slavery in America is acceptable based on Christianity, which is the religion that the country is founded. Slave owners believe that God endorsed human slavery in the Bible where in the Old Testament prominent religious men owned slav es. As African Americans are descendants of Noah’s son Ham, slave owners believe that slavery is a just punishment ordained by God, as the consequence of The Curse of Ham. Although slavery was widespread throughout the Roman world Jesus never spoke against it which is why slave masters believe God allowed it. Bringing Christianity to the heathen from Africa, slavery is believed to be a divine institution. Slavery has existed throughout history from Biblical times to the Greeks and Romans andShow MoreRelatedFrederick Douglass s Narrative Of The Life Of Fredrick Douglass, An American Slave1434 Words   |  6 Pagesstill reverberate the true meaning of freedom and political, economic, and social equality for all. Born a slave, Douglass was able to recount his story to a pre-Civil War American public, which had a tremendous effect on the views whites had about slavery and its role in American society. Douglass became a self-educated man as he grew up within the entanglements of slavery, but as a child he did not realize the effect that knowledge would eventually have on his life. His mistress, Sophia Auld, beganRead MoreDiscrimination And Stratification During The Nineteenth Century1616 Words   |  7 PagesIn the nineteenth century America was flourishing; it was coasting on new inventions and ideas like the cotton gin, steam engine and manifest destiny. However, through this all, the balance of social and economical order was being weighed in favor of the wealthy and powerful. All American societies dating way back to the very first at Jamestown and Plymouth, have had social stratifications. As the population has grown in America, and the capacity for industry and wealth increased, the stratificationRead MoreThe Great Irony Of The Civil War1685 Words   |  7 Pagesof ‘unity’ and ‘a way of life’; it is that it was caused by the very document that brought the country together. The mid-1800s were a time of great industry and change. Men made their fortunes in the North using great machines, and legions of paid workers, whereas men in the South made their fortunes on King Cotton, and the involuntary servitude of fellow Man. The Constitution, the Supreme Law of the Land, had no words for the institution of Slavery, or the series of actions that would herald theRead MoreSlavery Is A Blow At Commerce And Civilization1122 Words   |  5 Pagescan be inferred that the Confederate states fought for slavery, as it is a major part of their arguments. While the entire Confederacy ratified the Ordinance of Secession, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas also created declarations of causes, each state explaining the reasons as to why they were seceding. Additionally, some key leaders to the secession believed that Lincoln was on a warpath and was determined to abolish slavery as those before him had begun the process. MississippiRead MoreThe Transatlantic Trade During The 1700s1337 Words   |  6 Pagesmodern times, slavery has found a way to rear its ugly head in one way or another. It would appear that a person being a chattel to another person, as Merriam-Webster defines slavery, has been around for practically an eternity. Not only has it been –and still is –present, but slavery has been worldwide. No matter what type of slavery –forced labor, debt labor, sex slavery, or child slavery- the topic has proven to be very controversial in history. For American history in particular, slavery is one reasonRead MoreSlavery And Its Effects On Society1440 Words   |  6 PagesSlavery spans to nearly every culture, nationality, and religion and from ancient times to the present day. Slavery was a legal institution in which humans were legally considered property of another. Slaves were brought to the American colonies, and were utilized in building the economic foundations of the new world. In the 18th century, new ideas of human rights and freedom emerged out of the European Enlightenment stretching across the Americas and Europe. By the era of the American RevolutionRead MoreThe Adventures of Huckelberry Finn: The Deliberate Writing Style829 Words   |  4 Pagesunderstand the injustice of slavery and violence, despite their education. Although Huck lacks any substantial education, his moral values and judgment are highly developed. In the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain uses uneducated, colloquial diction and deliberate syntax to provide ironic contrast between Huck’s rudimentary level of education and profound use of moral judgment. Twain’s use of colloquial, homespun diction to veil Huck’s enlightened views on slavery and racism in the novelRead MoreSlavery And The American Economy1284 Words   |  6 PagesSlavery spans to nearly every culture, nationally, and religion and from ancient times to the present day. Slavery was a legal institution in which humans were legally considered property of another. In the 18th century, new ideas of human rights and freedom emerged out of the European Enlightenment stretching across the Americas and Europe. By the era of the American Revolution, the belief that slavery was wrong and would ultimately have to be abolished was widespread, in both the Americas and northernRead MoreCritical Analysis Of The Declaration Of Independence960 Words   |  4 PagesDeclaration of Independence was adopted by the Second Continental Congress at Independence Hall in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776. The document announced that the colonies regarded themselves as thirteen newly i ndependent sovereign states no longer under British rule. The writers of the Declaration expressed ideals stating that men are created equal and that all men have basic human rights given to them by God. The purpose of a government, according to the Founding Fathers, was to protect the basic humanRead MoreLincoln, Race, And The Spirit Of The 761247 Words   |  5 PagesPresident Abraham Lincoln was put into office March 4, 1861, and this would be the start of a significant change for America. Many people see Lincoln as one of the best presidents that was in office for America, but others have opposing views on how he was not the best president in office. In Lucas E. Morel’s, â€Å"Lincoln, Race, and the Spirit of ‘76†, he expresses, â€Å"Many people who consider Abraham Lincoln the greatest American president would be surprised to discover that he endorsed black colonizations