Introduction

The American South and North had starkly different views on the acceptance and continuation of slavery. This article explores the reasons behind this stark divide, focusing on social structures, economic dependencies, and cultural developments.

Historical Context of Slavery

Slavery pre-dates the United States and did not "develop" here in the same sense. It was deeply entrenched in the social fabric of both the North and South, albeit manifested in different forms. As David Hackett Fischer pointed out, the social structure of Southern leadership demanded extreme hierarchy, leading them to rely heavily on human labor.

The Role of the Cotton Gin

The invention of the Cotton Gin, roughly around 1793, significantly increased the demand for slavery in the southern states. Slaves became incredibly valuable in the cotton-growing regions, and Northerners often sold their slaves to the South. This event marked a turning point, making the South even more reliant on human labor to sustain its economy.

Social and Economic Structures

Slavery in the American South was deeply integrated into the economic and social structures. The Southern leadership required a strict hierarchy and relied on cheap labor to cultivate cash crops like rice, tobacco, and cotton. However, in the North, industrialization reduced the demand for this type of cheap labor. By 1861, the only state in the North that still allowed slavery was Delaware, whereas Southern states were still heavily dependent on slave labor.

The Rhetoric of the Founding Fathers and Slavery

The concept that the Founding Fathers unanimously supported freedom and were against slavery is a myth. As C. Vann Woodward noted, nearly all members of the Philadelphia Convention, including Northern delegates, were slaveholders. The Declaration of Independence, which was a critical document in justifying the American Revolution, accused the British King of encouraging servile insurrections. Despite these early irrationalities, many Northern states gradually abolished slavery for practical reasons, not moral ones.

Union, Freedom, and Race Relations

As the American Civil War began, Northern attitudes towards African Americans paradoxically hardened. This was especially true in Northwestern states. Fear of "Negro invasion" was a common trope. Northern leaders like Senator Lyman Trumbull of Illinois and Senator John Sherman of Ohio openly expressed their discomfort with having free African Americans in their states. These fears culminated in the Radical Reconstruction Acts and the debate over the capitalist ideal. The idea that the war was fought solely for freedom was a narrative used by many to justify the significant loss of life and resources.

Conclusion

The acceptance of slavery in the American South and its rejection in the North stemmed from differences in social structures, economic dependency, and cultural developments. The outcome of the Civil War and the subsequent Reconstruction efforts significantly impacted the racial dynamics of the United States, leaving lasting legacies to this day.

References:Fischer, David Hackett. Albion's Seed: Four British Folkways in America. Oxford University Press, 1989.Woodward, C. Vann. Black Power: The Today Movement and the Future of Democracy. The Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1965.Wilson, Clyde. Southern Heritage. Louisiana State University Press, 2005.