America in the World: The Abolition of Slavery - Essay Example

Opinions regarding slavery varied widely, and the abolition of slavery purely on moral grounds was argued against especially in the Southern states of the US since slavery had become part of the economic, social, cultural, and political life of the South (Chapter 12).

                        For the most part, it was suggested that slavery was part of an established way of life in the South.  Slaves, it was claimed, were treated well, in most households, and even when slaves were not necessary to labor on vast sugar or cotton plantations, they were being taken care of by the white, civilized society of the South. The fact that the two races – whites and blacks – existed together but were so different was used to justify the institution of slavery: “… distinguished by color … other physical differences, as well as intellectual …” (Calhoun, 1837). In the stereotypical argument of the Colonizer, or in this case, the slave-owner, it was argued that the “superior” race had a responsibility to educate, look after, and protect the “inferior” other races. Calhoun (1837) goes further than even this to claim that it was better to be a slave in the South than a poor worker in Europe. The slave would be given the “kind attention” of his/her “master and mistress” while the European worker would be in a “forlorn and wretched condition”.

Perhaps the most apparent reason to explain views such as these can be found in Calhoun’s words: “I feel called upon to speak freely upon the subject where the honor and interests of those I represent are involved”. More than anything, slavery was part of the pride and identity of the Southerners, and the abolition of slavery was considered an attack on this pride, identity, and way of life. 

In addition to this sense of pride, the economic reality was that slavery contributed to huge profits for the slave owner. Agriculture, industry, and commerce depended on this institution not only in the Southern States of America but worldwide (Chapter 12). The empire-building of the European countries, who had established colonies all over the globe, depended on this institution for the growth of their colonies and thus their wealth. The unequal governments in the colonies would necessarily not be able to continue without some form of slavery of the local people. Even when the trade in slaves was abolished, slave-master relationships continued to exist in many colonies, with the colonized people being treated and considered as completely inferior to the colonizers.

The abolition of the slave trade was a step toward a more just and democratic world. Slavery as an institution was exploitative and unequal. Nonetheless, this evil has not been eradicated, and the illegal trafficking of humans continues even today.

It seems that there will always be those people who believe that they are entitled to own others.