Chapter 16: The South and the Slavery Controversy 1783-1860 Flashcards
- How did slavery affect whites, those who owned slaves and those who did not?
Whites who owned slaves had often made expensive investments in them and were not willing to abolish slavery. Many white slave owners benefitted from the profits brought in by their slaves, particularly cotton plantation owners. Most white families did not own many slaves, however. The people who did not own slaves were sometimes abolitionists, but were more often lower class citizens who could not afford slaves, but most likely would own some if they possessed the funds. Some of these poor white folks were even scorned by slaves because of their unfortunate economic position. They did not benefit from slavery besides being able to take pride in being one rung above slaves on the social ladder.
- How did blacks respond to the condition of slavery?
Most enslaved African Americans simply suffered at the hands of their masters, but some slaves rebelled. Their rights were being withheld from them, and many slaves saw the injustice and took a stand, by running away, speaking boldly, or even physically fighting. One example of just what slaves thought of their bondage is seen in a spiritual commonly used at church, “Nobody knows de trouble I’ve had, nobody knows but Jesus.” They were desperate for freedom. Not all slaves were treated badly, however, so not all of them revolted. Each slave’s response was a reaction to his or her own unique situation.
- Why did the South move from viewing slavery as a necessary evil to proclaiming it a positive good?
Originally the South saw slavery as a necessary evil because it helped to sustain their economy as well as their habitual standards of living. To them, the enslavement of African Americans was an unfortunate side effect. As the plantation system changed because of the increased production of cotton, the amount of usable land began to decrease. Prominent landowners bought up more land from smaller farmers, increasing the size of their own plantations, and causing small plantations to decrease in size. As the varying of land holdings became more drastic, the plantations with more slaves raked in more profits. A connection was made between a man and the number of slaves he owned; the more slaves a man had, the higher he was in society and the more he was respected. With this mentality, people were tempted to overbuy slaves and land.
- How effective were the abolitionists in achieving their goals? Did they hasten or delay the end of slavery?
The abolitionists were effective in achieving their goal, as slavery was eventually abolished in America, but they may not have received exactly the responses they had hoped for. Many lashed out against the abolitionists violently, making them truly suffer for their cause. Their pleas helped to bring others about to the realization that slavery is wrong, especially in the North. Abolitionists did help to hasten the end of slavery. Even though the results of their outcry were often less than desirable, their spirited campaign did cause the South to respond, driving a deeper wedge between the North and South and bringing the Civil War and the end of slavery even closer.
Theodore Dwight Weld
a. One of the most important abolitionists in America’s history is Theodore Dwight Weld. Weld was converted by Charles Grandison Finney in the 1820s and was driven by the evangelistic spirit of the Second Great Awakening. He put together American Slavery as It Is, a pamphlet that contained many logical arguments against slavery.
William Lloyd Garrison
b. William Lloyd Garrison was a docile abolitionist who wanted the North to secede from the South. He was very direct about his beliefs, but was not skilled at organizing.
Frederick Douglass
c. Frederick Douglass was a slave who became a civil rights activist. He tried to escape slavery three times, but failed the first two times. His escape story inspired many, and his eloquent speaking and manners became a valuable asset for the abolitionist movement.
Martin Delany
d. Martin Delany was a black leader for the abolitionist movement who strongly considered the return of African Americans to Africa. Delany even travelled to West Africa to scout out the area for a suitable space to occupy.
