Antebellum America

The anti-slavery argument was not a new concept among Americans prior to the Civil War since such views began during the era of Atlantic slavery. Slavery, industrialization, and activism were at the center of American history in the 18th century before the Civil War. America was on the verge of industrialization and required laborers for their industries. They sought African Americans to solve their labor problem through slavery. Due to the calls for emancipation, several African Americans were freed from enslavement between 1816 and 1860.[1] The slave trade was viewed by its supporters as a way of increasing industrialization in the United States. Therefore, the early industrialists supported the enslavement of African Americans to provide free labor for the American industries, which were primarily sugar producers.

Earlier movements to abolish slavery had not been as coordinated, militant, or quick as the abolitionist movement, which made its official debut in the early 1830s in New York and Massachusetts.[2] According to historians, the Second Great Awakening's philosophical views inspired abolitionists to oppose slavery. The supporters of this renowned movement were mainly African Americans who advocated against enslavement. They argued in the humanitarian aspect, citing the deprivation of the enslaved's human dignity, rights, and freedoms. Christians who supported the movement also claimed that slavery defied the Ten Commandments. The industrial and economic supporters of the campaign also argued that the enslaved people were expensive compared to Indian non-slave labor. The abolitionists presented their arguments in several ways, including publicity and strikes.[3] They formed activist fronts that publicly advocated against enslavement throughout the country. They also developed the feminist abolitionists who agitated for women's rights alongside the fight against enslavement.

On the contrary, abolitionism faced opposition from southern and northern Americans. Government officials, who were majorly whites, opposed the abolitionist movement. They argued that the enslaved people provided strong military assistance and were not to be stopped. The anti-abolitionists also argued that the enslaved people provided free labor in the sugar industry; hence, abolitionism would mean that the sugar industries would not be productive. These anti-abolitionists destroyed the printing press and publications belonging to the abolitionists.

The Expansion of Slavery

Several developments in America in the early 1800s sparked slavery in the region. Territorial growth, westward influx, and the frontier. During this time, the nation expanded rapidly to the point where, by the 1840s, it had entered the Pacific Ocean. American democracy, equality, and independence were associated with the frontier. The frontier also spearheaded transformative socioeconomic development through the westward expansion of slavery.[4] The South Americans contributed significantly to the expansion of slavery in America due to their need to utilize slave labor on their cotton and tobacco farms. The westward movement led to the influx of enslaved people into Louisiana, Alabama, the Southwest, and Mississippi. Slavery later spread into Texas, making it a famous political concern witnessed in most American parts.

Economic, social, and agricultural reforms inspired the westward expansion of slavery. Cotton farming was practiced in Southern America, and enslaved people were seen as free labor on the farms.[5] Farming and industrialization were the major economic activities in America, and there was a need for increased laborers to ensure economic success. In Northern America, industrialization took a hit, and the region established several metropolises, leading to an influx of people. The factions who aimed to contain the expansion of slavery were politicians from both northern and southern America. They were forced to cope with slavery and its expansion through the Missouri Compromise.[6] This compromise upheld a fine line in both free and enslaved person states. Therefore, slavery was outlawed in northern America while it was maintained in the south.

The Growth of Industry in the United States

Industrial growth in the United States resulted from farming success and innovations. Thus, some of the earliest industrial innovations, like cotton and textile plants, were founded based on raw materials in the farming regions. These early factories relied heavily on steam power as their primary fuel. As a result, they were virtually solely located in the northeastern United States, the only region with swift streams.Place your order