Our Second Writing Assignment Is Due On Friday, June 22nd

Our Second Writing Assignment Is Due On Friday June 22ndthe Atlantic

Our second writing assignment is due on Friday, June 22nd. The Atlantic slave trade ended in 1808, but slavery thrived in the early American republic. How did the institution of slavery develop, expand, and change from the 18th century to the 19th century? You should consider economic, political, regional, and social factors. Write a word essay comparing and contrasting slavery in the two centuries.

Be sure to pay attention to change over time. The paper should be a short but formal essay, written in a Word document (or equivalent) 12-point font with appropriate margins. In grading the papers, I will be looking for three things: First, a strong argument. Second, good use of evidence backing up your thesis. And third, grammar and organization. *You will have to use my textbook to write this paper. I will provide you with the website and username and password.

Paper For Above instruction

The development, expansion, and transformation of slavery in America from the 18th to the 19th century is a critical chapter in understanding the social, economic, political, and regional dynamics that shaped the United States. While the Atlantic slave trade officially ended in 1808, the institution of slavery persisted and evolved, reflecting broader shifts in the nation's development. This essay explores how slavery grew and changed over these two centuries, emphasizing key differences and continuities, with particular attention to economic factors, political shifts, regional variations, and social implications.

In the 18th century, slavery was primarily driven by the burgeoning plantation economy, especially in the Southern colonies where cash crops such as tobacco, rice, and indigo created high demand for enslaved labor. The transatlantic slave trade supplied a steady influx of Africans, but as the trade declined after 1808, internal mechanisms of slavery intensified. The expansion of cotton cultivation following the invention of the cotton gin in 1793 was pivotal in transforming slavery into a more profitable enterprise. By the 19th century, the cotton economy had become deeply embedded in the Southern region, reinforcing the racial and social hierarchies that justified slavery’s continuation.

Economically, slavery's development reflected the growth of capitalist enterprises, with slave labor underpinning the economic expansion of the United States. The rise of plantation agriculture in the South was driven by the demands of global markets, including Britain and the Northern industrial states that depended on Southern cotton. Conversely, in the North, slavery largely declined due to industrialization and a different economic structure that favored wage labor and free markets. This regional economic divide created contrasting social identities, with the South continuing to depend heavily on enslaved Africans, while the North moved towards abolition and industrial growth.

Politically, the 18th century saw slavery as a contentious but crucial issue, often embedded within the fabric of colonial and early state politics. By the 19th century, however, the political landscape was increasingly polarized over slavery, manifesting in events like the Missouri Compromise (1820) and the Compromise of 1850. These legislative measures aimed to maintain a fragile balance between free and slave states but ultimately failed to resolve the moral and economic conflicts. The rise of abolitionist movements in the North added pressure, but the political system continued to uphold slavery until the Civil War.

Regionally, slavery's characteristics varied across different parts of the country. In the Deep South, slavery was deeply entrenched in the plantation economy, characterized by large-scale operations and harsh conditions. In contrast, the Upper South and border states had smaller slaveholding populations and different social structures. These regional differences influenced the political and economic development, as well as the social attitudes towards slavery and free labor.

Socially, slavery shaped racial hierarchies and social identities. In the 18th century, enslaved Africans were often viewed through racial lenses that justified their subjugation. These beliefs intensified in the 19th century, bolstered by pseudoscientific theories of racial superiority that gained popularity in scientific and political discourse. The social constructions of race and slavery justified discriminatory laws and practices, fostering a system that dehumanized Africans and their descendants.

In conclusion, slavery in America underwent significant development, expansion, and change from the 18th to the 19th century. While economic motivations, regional characteristics, and social ideologies evolved, the core institution persisted until abolition. Understanding these changes highlights how economic interests, political conflicts, and social attitudes shaped the trajectory of slavery and, consequently, the history of the United States.

References

Baptist, E. E. (2014). The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism. Basic Books.

Berlin, I. (2003). Generations of Captivity: A History of African-American Slaves. Belknap Press.

Fogel, R. W., & Engerman, S. L. (1974). Time on the Cross: The Economics of American Negro Slavery. Norton.

Hampton, M. P. (2011). Slave Traders: The Development of the Atlantic Slave Trade, 1550–1807. Routledge.

Kolchin, P. (1993). American Slavery: 1619–1877. Hill and Wang.

Werner, C. (2019). The Color of Law: Race, Housing, and the Civil Rights Movement. Liveright Publishing.

Roark, J. L., Johnson, M. P., et al. (2017). The American Promise: Volume 1: To 1877: A History of the United States. Bedford/St. Martin’s.

Johnson, W. (2018). River of Dark Dreams: Slavery and Empire in the Cotton Kingdom. Harvard University Press.

McPherson, J. M. (1988). Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. Oxford University Press.