Thursday, December 1, 2011
The Benefits of Slavery to the Southern Economy
Hindsight is truly 20/20 and anyone in their right mind today would dub slavery as an inhumain practice which should have never been allowed. However, go back 150 years and put yourself in the shoes of a struggling middle class citezen in the South. Forget the propaganda of Uncle Tom's cabin, and all of the fictional stories of slaves being beaten to death. Most slaves had a better life being a slave than they did as a free man. They were fed, they had a roof over their heads and they contributed to society. So was slavery all that bad? Throw out all the propaganda from the North; the slaves lived decent lives which in turn severely helped the southern economy. The cost of products and services became much cheaper, therefore the profit was greater and the country as a whole was far more wealthy. Was it really that bad?
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Scott, I like the fact that you took the stance against the norm. Yes everyone nowadays would "dud slavery inhumane", but the fact that you took the side of the Southern States really shows that you are willing to take a chance against the norm. Your post really stuck out in my mind, because you did this.
ReplyDeleteIf what you are saying is that, despite the fact that slavery is a morally and intolerable evil, it benefitted the economic well being of the south... then yes I agree with you.
ReplyDeleteI believe it is true that the country as a whole became far wealthier by the slave labor force. However, did most black Americans individually have a better life as slaves than free men? Their freedom had been taken away, they were treated more like animals, and finally they were working without motivations - no income, no benefits, and no savings from working. Even though I still disagree with your idea, I am still astonished by the fact that this matter can be approached in many diverse perspectives.
ReplyDeleteI like your stance in that you played the "devil's advocate." So, you inspired me to do the same. Slavery, in the South, is a prime example of inter-continental capitalism at it's finest. Plantation owners BOUGHT captured foreign males and utilized the practice of immense oppression until they could eventually reap the juicy fruit's of another man's labor. No human being should ever be captured, starved, auctioned, then used. To say that slavery is inhumane is the understatements. You, I, nor practically anyone can relate to the life of a slave in the South. However, I seriously doubt that his life is as glorified as you propose. Imagine performing 12 straight hours of manual labor in the scorching Mississippi summer heat. Not to mention doing so against your will for a man whose only concern for your well-being is whether you can survive until the next harvest. And this "struggling middle-class citizen" would probably not be able to afford more than one slave if he was struggling so bad. Thus, the practice of slavery would not significantly contribute to the quality of his life. Although I can not make any of these claims for certain, I seriously doubt that stories of lives taken at the hand of slave owners is fictional. Perchance these stories might be embellished and exaggerated but seldom fabricated entirely. And to your claim that slaves lived better lives than they would as free men because they are fed and sheltered, I raise this quote: it has been said that it is "Better to starve free than be a fat slave." The profundity of this statement alone is beyond substantial evidence to the inhumanity associated with nearly all cases of slavery. In spite of my rant, I want to thank you for going against the grain and taking the road less traveled. It inspired me to delve deeper into this topic and made everyone who read it a better thinker for that.
ReplyDeleteTo say that slavery is inhumane is the understatement of all understatements.*
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