Posted: August 19th, 2023

Analyze the Utilization of Legal, Religious, and Economic Arguments

Analyze the Utilization of Legal, Religious, and Economic Arguments by Proponents of Nineteenth-Century Slavery

The institution of enslaving African Americans stands as an undeniable testament to historical cruelty, now regarded with widespread condemnation. Yet, during its existence, a resolute cohort of advocates staunchly defended slavery. Southern slaveholders fervently upheld this system, despite mounting criticism, marshaling legal, religious, and economic justifications to legitimize their stance. The proponents of slavery contended that they possessed a legal entitlement to own slaves, chiefly rooted in court rulings that solidified the legality of the practice. This legal foundation was significantly influenced by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, an ardent proponent of slavery. The pinnacle of these rulings materialized in the Dred Scott v. Sanford case, wherein the Supreme Court ruled that not only slaves, but all individuals of African descent, were to be regarded as property in legal proceedings, rather than as human beings. This ruling was ostensibly grounded in constitutional protection of property rights, effectively permitting slave ownership.

In addition to legal arguments, proponents of slavery sought vindication through religious channels. They propagated the notion that slavery bore divine sanction, asserting that it was an auspicious institution even for the subjugated individuals. They held that the African “heathens” brought to America under duress could potentially encounter Christianity, even amid their forced labor. Select biblical passages were invoked to buttress this belief, including a reference to servitude in the Ten Commandments: “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house… nor his manservant, nor his maidservant.” Citing various verses from the Bible that alluded to slavery, supporters contended that the absence of explicit condemnation from Jesus suggested the institution’s compatibility with faith, thereby mitigating its perceived immorality.

Economic rationales further fortified the defenses of slavery. Advocates argued that the cessation of slavery would precipitate a catastrophic collapse of the Southern economy. This assertion hinged upon the contention that slavery underpinned the foundational agricultural output that sustained the region. Crops such as cotton, tobacco, and rice, predominantly cultivated and harvested by enslaved labor, constituted the bedrock of the South’s economic viability. Proponents of slavery contended that any abrupt discontinuation of this system would yield dire consequences, affecting not only plantation owners but also the broader economy, exacerbating fears of collapse.

In summary, advocates of nineteenth-century slavery adeptly wielded legal, religious, and economic arguments to bolster their support for an institution now universally condemned for its brutality. The legal framework, influenced by influential figures like Chief Justice Taney, fortified the position of slaveholders by invoking constitutional property rights. Religious beliefs were invoked to portray slavery as divinely ordained, potentially redeeming for those subjected to it. Additionally, economic considerations underscored the perceived indispensable role of enslaved labor in maintaining the Southern economy’s stability. Although history unequivocally condemns the institution, a dissection of the arguments marshaled by its proponents provides insight into the complexities of their rationalizations during a deeply troubling epoch.

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Study Notes & Homework Samples: Slavery And The Making Of America »Abolishing Slavery in the 18th Century