Slavery Dbq

920 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The south pre civil war

Within the Southern community during the late 1700s, the large barrier of slavery divided people in their mentality, geography, and social status. In one point of view, it was simply a part of life that helped the economic growth of the community and was deemed substantial and correct through misunderstood biblical references; however, many people voiced an opposing opinion to the fact of the equality of all men and the immorality of slavery. While both communities believed their opinion was best for the common good, those who truly took action lead the United States to a higher sense of morality and justice throughout the years. During the events leading up to the Civil War, the Southern position voiced their opinions and logic through two …show more content…

While many of the founding fathers had contributed to this theme and theory, the most significant and involved founding father was Benjamin Franklin, because of his courage and passion toward the abolition of slavery. This passion grew and inspired many others with the same ideals to rise up and make an impact, and his value to the nation helped create an atmosphere of importance that could not be overlooked by the confederacy. Through his dedication and search for justice, he rallied and inspired many people to take a stand for the truth, freedom, and rights for all mankind. An example of the effects of this courage is how the constitution “empowered congress to take whatever action it deemed ‘necessary and proper’ to eliminate the stigma in traffic in human beings” (83) as well as his physical presence in the House to insist on the abolition of slavery. In one perspective, the South tried to escape this aspect of immorality by backing up slavery with Bible references claiming that it was appropriate; however, these references were misunderstood and went against the basic codes of humanity and equality. The unethical and dishonorable treatment of slaves leads my opinion to agree with Benjamin Franklin’s in that all men (and women) are created …show more content…

Previous to Ellis’ writings, I understood the South to recognize that their actions were morally wrong; however, their judgement may have been clouded by feelings of fear and limitations in areas such as finances, social status, and ethics according to the Bible. This has lead to a realization point for my personal respect for Benjamin Franklin and his perseverance for what was ethically right and for a higher standard of moral living. It has shown Franklin in a different way than I had previously recognized him, because now his leadership qualities and moral courage are much more apparent. Through Ellis’ perspective, the challenges and trials Franklin had to overcome were much clearer as was his passion toward the abolishment of slavery. Not only have these writings brought to light Franklin in a new perspective, but have also shown a new side to the events leading up to the war: for example, there was major confusion of where the authority was placed. Trials and conflicts arose because of the debate of whether the North should have a decision over those in the South, whether congress should be prominent in decision making, and whether the central government should have dictation over the state governments. All were valid, logistical arguments brought up by both sides, but had only recently come to attention through the writings of

Show More
Related

  • Ap World History Dbq Slavery

    1734 Words  | 4 Pages

    Slavery was a main contributor in the South in the 1800s. African Americans were enslaved in large plantations growing cotton, instead of tobacco. Slavery was the same old story it was in the 1600s, barely anything had changed. Slavery was the dominating reality of southern life in the antebellum period due to economical, social, and political reasons.

    Read More

  • Sectionalism And The Breakup Of The U.s

    1030 Words  | 3 Pages

    This was an issue in the days of the Bible and continues to be an issue in the mid 1800's. The divisions in the country brought about by slavery seem to be categorized into two main groups, abolitionists, and slave holders. These two groups also were divided geographically for the most part due to the South's need of slaves. for cheap, and reliable man power, and the North, as it was not an. agriculturally based economy and needed little in the way of unskilled laborers.

    Read More

  • 18th Century Slavery Dbq

    942 Words  | 2 Pages

    During the 17th and early 18th century, slavery in the United States grew from being a small addition to the labor force to a huge institution that would persist for more than a century. Much of the development of slavery occurred in the Middle and Southern colonies, especially Virginia. Without the events that occurred and the policies established in Virginia during this time period, slavery would never have become what it did today. The decrease in indentured labor coming from England led to an increase in slave labor in the colonies, and the introductions of the concepts of hereditary slavery and chattel slavery transformed slavery into the binding institution it became in the 18th century.

    Read More

  • Manifest Destiny: The Abolitionist Movement

    747 Words  | 2 Pages

    Abolitionists thoughts became progressively conspicuous in Northern places of worship and politics in the 1830’s which contributed to the territorial ill will amongst the North and South, essentially dividing the nation in two. The southern economy grew increasingly dependent on “king cotton” and the system of slaves that sustained it.

    Read More

  • Franklin’s Militia

    1129 Words  | 3 Pages

    Benjamin Franklin and the Quakers had a very different ideological stance on the formation of a militia. This difference in opinion shows us the clash of their “mental worlds”. Ben Franklin’s push to raise a militia subverted the Quakers’ moral authority, thus leading to their withdrawal from the public arena. The Quaker’s inability to separate their religious dogma from secular necessities, along with some of their contradictions of principle forced them to leave public office over time. Also the Quakers could not keep consistency within their own community, some of them believing in defensive war, while others not.

    Read More

  • Southern Pro-Slavery Rhetoric

    1613 Words  | 4 Pages

    By 1860, the slave states had approximately four million slaves making up approximately one-third of the South's population. However, opposition to slavery began as early as the 1700's by religious leaders and philosophers in North America and Europe who condemned the practice, arguing that slavery was contrary to God's teachings and violated basic human rights. During the Revolutionary War, many Americans came to feel that slavery in the United States was wrong because they believed that protection of human rights was one of the founding tenets of the United States, and slaves were not accorded rights. Slavery was likely opposed more rapidly in the North in part because fewer people in the North owned slaves. Northern abolitionists began organized efforts to end the practice of slavery in the 1800's. But much of the American South, believed that slavery was vital to the continuation of its livelihood and lifestyle and therefore defended the institution of slavery.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of The Irrepressible Conflict Between The North And South

    1061 Words  | 3 Pages

    The people of the North and South each believed fiercely in their cause, one for a free people the other for life servitude. Neither group, based on the documents presented were willing to budge regarding their beliefs. They North wanted to abolish slavery completely and the South could not understand why they had to give up their way of life because the concept was so ingrained in them as a people. The two completely different ideals could not co-exist peacefully and therefore the eventual climax of this issue, the war, was an inevitable

    Read More

  • Religion's Influence on the Slavery Debates

    1362 Words  | 3 Pages

    Slavery was a dominant part of the political and social arenas of 1800’s America. However, it was not homogenous as it divided America into two distinct groups: those who supported it and those who did not. Traditionally, the states in the north had been anti-slavery while the states in the south had been pro-slavery. Southern life and economy depended on slavery and therefore staunchly supported the continued legal status of slavery. The northern states on the other hand recognized the inhumane nature of slavery and campaigned to establish equality for all citizens. In order to establish solid reasoning for their stance, both pro-slave and anti-slave groups turned to theological inspiration for their actions. The Bible inspired both pro-slavery advocates and anti-slavery abolitionists alike. Religion was used in order to justify slavery and also to condemn it.

    Read More

  • The Beginnings of the Sectional Crisis

    843 Words  | 2 Pages

    The South did not seem to have a problem with the system of slavery. After all, why should they? it had been successful for over 200 years. Instead, they saw the North as a cruel society full of the treacheries caused by capitalism. They saw factory work as "wage slavery" while they viewed Southern slavery as "paternalistic" and "benevolent." Slavery, they contended, helped eliminate all class distinctions in Southern society. In the North, they saw, factory owners became rich while their employees lived in a state of poverty. Slavery was the great unifier of Southern society.

    Read More

  • The Secession of the South

    778 Words  | 2 Pages

    Tensions between the North and South had grown steadily since the anti slavery movement in 1830. Several compromises between the North and South regarding slavery had been passed such as the Nebraska-Kansas and the Missouri act; but this did little to relieve the strain. The election of President Lincoln in 1861 proved to be the boiling point for the South, and secession followed. This eventually sparked the civil war; which was viewed differently by the North and the South. The Northern goal was to keep the Union intact while the Southern goal was to separate from the Union. Southern leaders gave convincing arguments to justify secession. Exploring documents from South Carolina’s secession ordinance and a speech from the Georgia assembly speech will explain how the Southern leaders justify the secession from the United States.

    Read More

  • Abraham Lincoln: A Self-Made Man

    2010 Words  | 5 Pages

    Abraham Lincoln, an autodidactic early American, grew up amidst the unlikely setting of the American frontier to an impoverished and undistinguished family (Donald n.p.). Lincoln built himself up in a world built to bring him down, and rose “from [these] humble origins in Kentucky, to prominent positions in legal and political circles of Illinois, and then to the pinnacle of presidency” (Donald n.p.). Within two months of gaining presidency, in contempt of Lincoln’s noble efforts, the American Civil War broke out amongst the country, and Abraham Lincoln, undeterred by the considerable amount of stress he was under, managed to keep together and ultimately strengthen the broken nation (Gienapp). Lincoln boldly proceeded to denounce and even completely abolish slavery in America when he instituted the Emancipation Proclamation during the Civil War, and adeptly convinced the Senate to pass the Thirteenth Amendment (Hamilton). Abraham Lincoln, America’s sixteenth president, left a significant impact on the country when he left an admirable legacy for future Americans to appreciate despite his difficult upbringing and personal life, when he consolidated the Union despite a civil war, and when he led the revolutionary movement to abolish slavery despite the controversy.

    Read More

  • Differences Between the North and South that Led to the Civil War

    1460 Words  | 3 Pages

    After the American Revolution, slavery began to decrease in the North, just as it was becoming more popular in the South. By the turn of the century, seven of the most Northern states had abolished slavery. During this time, a surge of democratic reform swept the North to the West, and there were demands for political equality, economic and social advances for all Americans. Northerners said that slavery revoked the human right of being a free person and when new territories became available i...

    Read More

  • What Did The North Cause The Civil War Essay

    1129 Words  | 3 Pages

    A solution to limit slavery debates led to the creation of a doctrine known as Popular Sovereignty. “A territory could decide by vote whether or not to permit slavery within its boundaries.” Therefore, this doctrine gave the territory right to be pro-slavery or anti-slavery. Although the doctrine ruled in favor of the majority of the population of a territory, not one hundred percent of the territory’s population was always in compliance. It is commonly discussed that slavery was something that greatly segregated the north from the south. With the south being pro-slavery, many were aware that the south needed slavery for particular services or else they would not feel so strongly to preserve slavery. “Slavery was basically a system to control labor, being a great investment for slave-owners to profit from.” Slaves were necessary for cotton production and other farm duties. “Cotton was king in the Old South: its primary export and the major source of southern wealth.” Furthermore, the south

    Read More

  • Slavery in American Society: Impact and Evolution

    1631 Words  | 4 Pages

    The controversies surrounding slavery have been established in many societies worldwide for centuries. In past generations, although slavery did exists and was tolerated, it was certainly very questionable,” ethically“. Today, the morality of such an act would not only be unimaginable, but would also be morally wrong. As things change over the course of history we seek to not only explain why things happen, but as well to understand why they do. For this reason, we will look further into how slavery has evolved throughout History in American society, as well as the impacts that it has had.

    Read More

  • Slavery by Another Name

    584 Words  | 2 Pages

    For most American’s especially African Americans, the abolition of slavery in 1865 was a significant point in history, but for African Americans, although slavery was abolished it gave root for a new form of slavery that showed to be equally as terrorizing for blacks. In the novel Slavery by Another Name, by Douglas Blackmon he examines the reconstruction era, which provided a form of coerced labor in a convict leasing system, where many African Americans were convicted on triumphed up charges for decades.

    Read More

More about Slavery Dbq

Open Document