Slavery Expansion

The expansion of industry, slavery and prominence of peculiar institutions created a divided nation between the north and the south regions of the United States. The north became dependent on the system of railroads in order expand industry while the south was primarily dependent on cotton, slavery and agrarianism. Slavery being an issue that was affecting society and politics at the time came to bring a connection that was also seen as a profitable business entity. There is a clear connection between slavery and the economic effects it had in the market revolution of the nation.

Slavery’s evolution and expansion in the United States began with the banning of the African slave trade in 1808. The importation of African slaves did not apply many who had resided in the nation before the ban. Internal slave trade began in the United States once the importation of African slaves was prohibited, many would be sold individually or in groups this contributing to both the expansion and economic effects of slavery. Southerner’s viewed slavery expansion as an economic gain towards their profits, many arguing that expansion of slavery in the west would

produce their dependent crop of cotton, arguing that a slave could produce more cotton than those working in factories. Those in the north that did not want slavery to expand to the new territory seeing slavery as an economic burden towards their profits. Expanding slavery would give less opportunities to many seeking employment out west, the economic profit benefiting only the plantation owners with slaves. Many of the slave owners gave food, shelter and clothing to their slaves opposing to the idea of paying a wage to their workers. Those in the north viewed the new territory as an opportunity for manufacturing and expanding the railroad system. The different forms of how both regions conducted business caused a dividing gap between the areas, both heavily influenced by the economy and the expansion of slavery.
Southern life began to create social norms know as peculiar institutions that heavily influenced its distinct economy. Slavery and agrarianism became the dependent economy of the south during the market revolution, cotton being the primary crop for the region. “Three fourths of the worlds cotton supply came from the United States” (Foner 313). The Sothern’s plantation system created a caste system that few were a part of. Most, if not many Sothern’s lived in poor economic conditions growing food only to support themselves. Plantation owners were part of an elite class in the south many viewing themselves as saviors of their society. Part of the life of living in the south would rely both on slaves and poor farmers depending on a plantation owners asking for food, shelter and basic living necessities. The northern society differed in than that of the south it tended to be much more capitalist, viewing opportunity in new areas for economic growth, manufacturing, industry, and a salary became the social norm. There was more growth and opportunities in the north, the south continued to rely on system of slavery and plantations for its economy containing to further the gap between the regions of the north and south.
This period in history can see a relationship between slavery and the economic market, and how each other influenced their effects on the region.

The free produce movement in the north advocated for the nonuse of southern products while the southern nonintercourse movement advocated the nonuse of northern goods. The effects of both movements did not have a great effect on the economy however they prove that there was a relationship between slavery and the economic market during this period. The intentions of both movements were not to profit but to deteriorate the economy of each region using economy that primarily focused on the issue of slavery. The reason both movements did not have an impact on the economics of each region was that both the north and the south relied on both of their

economies.
The market revolution and its connection to slavery developed two different areas with distinctive economies. The north relied heavily on manufacturing and transportation through the railroad system, the south maintained a system of slavery and plantations. Much of the south stood by slavery because it pertained to daily life. They choose to justify slavery for it social, political, and economic value it had to its society. Many of whom choose to be against slavery or its expansion in the north saw it as a disruption to freedom. Northerners claiming that the expansion of slavery would damage the economic market, limiting the opportunities out west. The opposing viewpoints on how the issues were to be handled furthered the gap dividing the nation.