Is Slavery Good Or Bad

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Americans are so enamored of equality that they would rather be equal in slavery than unequal in freedom.... The subjection of individuals will increase amongst democratic nations, not only in the same proportion as their equality, but in the same proportion as their ignorance. –Alexis de Tocqueville This quote by de Tocqueville, who is a French historian well known for his writings of “Democracy in America,” introduces the idea that members of society started to realize that despite differences in culture and skin color, both peoples were “created equal” and should be treated as such. This ideology is similar to that of the abolitionist who fought strongly for racial and gender equality of slaves. And ever since the European colonists settled …show more content…

But during this time, very few people questioned the moral integrity of owning slaves and using them as free labor. Now that society has changed and people look back in history with different beliefs and opinions, some begin to question slavery and many things about it. One question posed regards the moral integrity of those who owned slaves, but one question seems to stand out more than the others. This question, simply put, is “Was slavery good or bad?” It is not just general question of good or bad, but on the more in depth topics such as the health conditions of slaves and economic benefits of it. Also encompassed within this question is some of the lesser thought about side effects of slavery. These …show more content…

In a speech given by John C. Calhoun to the senate, he makes the statement, “Never before has the black race of Central Africa, from the dawn of history to the present day, attained a condition so civilized and so improved, not only physically, but morally and intellectually.” By this, Calhoun is saying that by being slaves in the United States, African Americans lives will be far better off than if they were living their normal free life back in Africa. Some scholars and historians believe this to be true for a few reasons. As a slave in the United States, African Americans were provided with adequate clothing, some form of shelter to house them, and food to eat. Slave owners would protect and care for their “property” because they were a vital instrument in making money. Also, Calhoun says something along the lines of African Americans being better off slaves than as free peoples working on their own. This claim made by Calhoun can supported by the conditions of factory workers in Europe. Those factory owners did not care about the workers and only wanted to make a profit. If a worker was to get hurt, they would be easily replaced due to the lack of skills necessary to operate the machines. Plantations, however, relied heavily on the good health of the slaves. Plantation

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