Question 1: By The 1820s, Slavery Was Under Attack, And Sout

Question 1: By the 1820s, slavery was under attack, and southerners countered by defending slavery as a positive good and used biblical examples to support their arguments. Explain what the southerners said, and why, and then discuss why by 1850 the national debate over slavery had changed from a primarily legal debate to a moral debate.

The period leading up to the 1820s marked increased scrutiny of slavery in the United States, with abolitionist movements gaining momentum in the North. In response, Southern defenders of slavery articulated it as a "positive good," contrasting it with the notion of slavery as a necessary evil. Southerners argued that slavery was beneficial both for the enslaved and for society at large, claiming that enslaved Africans were better cared for than free laborers in many Northern factories. They also employed religious and biblical justifications, citing passages from the Bible to legitimize slavery and affirming that it was part of divine providence.

One of the key arguments put forth was that slavery was divinely sanctioned, with Biblical references such as Ephesians 6:5 ("Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ"). Southern apologists contended that the Bible did not condemn slavery but rather regulated and sanctioned it, thus making it a biblically justified institution. They also claimed that slavery was a civilizational force that introduced Christianity and Western values to Africans, whom they described as potentially savage or uncivilized before slavery.

The Southern argument also emphasized economic dependence on slavery, asserting that the Southern economy relied heavily on slave labor for its profitability, especially in cotton production, which was rapidly expanding with the invention of the cotton gin. They contended that abolishing slavery would be economically ruinous and socially disruptive in the South.

By 1850, the debate over slavery had evolved from a primarily legal issue to a moral one, influenced by several societal and regional shifts. The abolitionist movement grew stronger, with figures like William Lloyd Garrison publishing incendiary literature condemning slavery as morally wrong and inhumane. The publication of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s "Uncle Tom’s Cabin" in 1852 vividly portrayed the brutal realities of slavery, galvanizing Northern opposition. The publication and spread of such narratives painted slavery not just as a legal or economic institution but as an ethical atrocity that conflicted with American principles of liberty and human rights.

Furthermore, the spread of evangelical Christianity and social reform movements during this period highlighted moral issues surrounding slavery. Many Northerners and abolitionists used Christian morality to argue that slavery was incompatible with Christian teachings of love, justice, and the inherent dignity of every human being. The moral debate was further intensified by the gradual realization that slavery was a fundamental violation of American democratic ideals, leading to increased national polarization over the issue.

Significant events that triggered this shift include the publication of the "Liberator" by William Lloyd Garrison (1831), emphasizing the moral imperative of abolition, and the successful petition campaigns that gathered Northern support for anti-slavery measures. The debate expanding into moral realms also reflected the growing sectional divide, making slavery not just a regional economic issue but a profound question of human morality and national identity.

References

• Davis, D. W. (2001). Reflecting God’s Image: An Introduction to Christian Ethics. Baker Academic.
• Freeman, M. (2000). The Slaveholders’ Dilemma: A Historical Perspective. Harvard University Press.
• Garrison, W. L. (1831). The Liberator.
• Stowe, H. B. (1852). Uncle Tom’s Cabin. John P. Jewett & Company.
• Wilson, C. (2005). American Slavery: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press.
• Berlin, I. (1998). Generations of Captivity: A History of African-American Slaves. Harvard University Press.
• McPherson, J. M. (1988). Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. Oxford University Press.
• Finkelman, P. (2011). Slavery in the United States: A Social, Political, and Historical Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO.
• Hahn, S. (2003). A Nation Under Our Feet: Black Political Struggles in the Rural South from Slavery to the Great Migration. Harvard University Press.
• McDaniel, S. (2010). The Age of Lincoln. Vintage Books.