preview

Slavery in the 1800s

Decent Essays

During the 19th century slavery was a very prominent and controversial issue between the north and the southern states. In the South, most people believed that slavery was a profitable way of life and if the slavery was to be abolished it would then affect their economy. On the hand the northern had different opinions about slavery and intended to stop it. The fact that the perception were different between the two led to a very difficult situation in resolving the issue. During the antebellum period, pro-slavery and abolitionists took different stance on the notion of slavery. Gorge Fitzhugh, a very prominent southerner tried to justify his reasoning for his pro-slavery stance by showing the Comparison between the relationship of a master and a slave to that of parent or guardian and a child. According to his explanations, he claimed that black people are not capable of taking care of themselves in a free market system. He also argued that black people are improvident; “will not lay up in summer for the wants of winter; will not accumulate in youth for the exigencies of age”. In other words he was saying that the black people don’t foresee and plan for the future and this will make unpleasant burden to the society. Therefore, the Society has the right to stop this from happening, and can only be done by subjecting them to domestic slavery. Fitzhugh also criticized African culture. He urged that Africans practiced idolatry and cannibalism

Get Access