The History of Slavery in the United States

Slavery is defined as a situation where an individual is handled as a property to others. Baptist claimed that the practice of the slave trade first stated in the 17th century but become widespread in the US in the 18th

century after independence just prior to the conclusion of American civil war. However, with the ratification of abolition laws and its widespread of its ideals within the Northern American states, slaves were freed in the region. Nevertheless, the growth of cotton and tobacco industry and the need of labor in the mid of 18th century made the Southern American to raise the issue of slavery and adapt them to work in their farms[1]. Based on the information. This paper will discuss how slavery played a decisive role in the history of the United States in the 1800s

How Southerners Defended the Slavery

According to Ford, farming had become a crucial sector of the economy in the 18th

century for the Southern State. Tobacco had plaid a big part in the growth of these states. Due to the rapid growth of the cotton industry made the crop to replace tobacco as a major cash crop in the region. The invention of cotton in gin in 1793 then demonstrated how cotton was proving to be an important crop and how slaves would play a vital role in the operation of machines and general labor[2]. The situation made the Southern State to be more defensive on slavery. According to Baptist, the southerners claimed that the abolition of slavery would to the decline to the economy to the south which slaves were a key factor in the provision of labor. They also argue that freeing slaves would result in massive unemployment

How slaves commonly offered resistance to their master.

The slaves used day-to-day resistance of sabotage like setting buildings on fire, breaking of tools and striking from work. Raboteau stated that several slaves fled to the Northern State in premature civil war[3]. Slaves were an asset by providing free labor to the southern state hence improving the economy.

The problem slaves faced after being freed

In many ways, freedom created more uncertain compared to slavery. Slaves were whipped on their backs by white officers in the army. Blacks were discriminated based on payments of salary. White armies were remunerated $10 every month while the blacks received $3 only[4]. To add on that, the white army were also given free clothes. Congress helped to guarantee slaves their rights by passing bills and acts into the law to protect the rights of slaves. The Congress ratified laws ensuring equal salary to both the whites and the black troops. Other amendments were passed which defined citizenship and guaranteed protection of every citizen and equal rights of voting.

Did Congress Action Work?

The amendments enforced greatly changed American politics government and the society. The period after these amendments is described as reconstruction. President Lincoln used various steps to unite the Northern and Southern state. Furthermore, Baptist posited that the number of Democrats from the south increased in the House of Representatives.

Conclusion

This paper has established the various challenges slaves in the US went through and the various efforts put by the Congress to end the slavery. The experience is one no one would like to go through. Even after being freed, the slaves never enjoyed their rights until amendments were made to the constitution. Although slavery ended, discrimination still exists and the American leaders must also find sound laws to mitigate the vice.

Bibliography

Guasco, Suzanne Cooper. Confronting Slavery: Edward Coles and the Rise of Antislavery Politics in Nineteenth-Century America. Northern Illinois University Press, 2013.

Hope, Misty. “Abolition Is Not Just for Slavery: Abolishing Debtors’ Prison in America by Changing Debt from Criminal to Circumstantial, 1830-1831.” The Atlanta Review of Journalism History (2014): 21.

[1]

Guasco, Suzanne Cooper. Confronting Slavery: Edward Coles and the Rise of Antislavery Politics in Nineteenth-Century America. Northern Illinois University Press, 2013, 32

[2]

Hope, Misty. “Abolition Is Not Just for Slavery: Abolishing Debtors’ Prison in America by Changing Debt from Criminal to Circumstantial, 1830-1831.” The Atlanta Review of Journalism History (2014): 21

[3]

Hope, Misty. “Abolition Is Not Just for Slavery: Abolishing Debtors’ Prison in America by Changing Debt from Criminal to Circumstantial, 1830-1831.” The Atlanta Review of Journalism History (2014): 21

[4]

Guasco, Suzanne Cooper. Confronting Slavery: Edward Coles and the Rise of Antislavery Politics in Nineteenth-Century America. Northern Illinois University Press, 2013, 43