QUESTION
Chapter 12&13 Discussion
The focus this week shifted to the American south, and in particular, the evolving practice of human slavery. Slavery was referred to by Thomas Jefferson as a "peculiar institution," which meant that he saw it as both strange and unique to America. Is that true? How did the enslavement of African people shape southern culture and values? What have you learned about the lives of enslaved people -- and the social hierarchies of the south? How do this week's documents complicate your perspective? Was the south destined to reach a stand-off with the north over the issue of slavery?
Chapter 12&13
Book: Roark, James L., et. al. The American Promise: A Concise History. 6th ed., vol. 1: To 1877, Bedford/St. Martin's, 2017.
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Answer
Slave Trade
Q1. According to Thomas Jefferson, slave trade was a peculiar institution that was strange and unique to America. In other words, it promoted social injustice and denied black people the freedom and right to enjoy life and be treated like their white counterparts (Roark 372). Jefferson believed that slavery was immoral and everyone had a right to be treated equally irrespective of their race or color.
Q2. How did the enslavement of African people shape southern culture and values? The enslavement of African People influenced the southern culture and values in various ways. For instance it led to the establishment of various laws and regulations that confined Africans to poverty and dependency (Faragher et al., 7). It also led to the rise of social classes that distinguished the rich from the poor. In this regard, slave owners were viewed as superior and controlled most resources and power in the society. However, all whites were bound by their belief in racism and white supremacy.
Q3. What have you learned about the lives of enslaved people -- and the social hierarchies of the south? The lives of enslaved people was characterized by harsh treatment, hard labor, as well as, physical and spiritual burden. The South became a slave society where politics, economy, and the social structure was shaped by slavery (Roark 360). Similarly, the social hierarchies were characterized with unequal distribution of wealth such that the planter elite controlled most of the regions wealth and slaves, followed by the average slave owners, and the poor southern white (non-slaveholders).
Q4. How do this week's documents complicate your perspective? This week’s documents have expounded my perspective on slavery and helped me understand the roots and effects it had on the blacks and the American society (Roark 370). For example, it led to the degradation of human rights and spread of racism in the society among other negative effects.
Q5. Was the south destined to reach a stand-off with the north over the issue of slavery? The South was destined to reach a stand-off with the north over slavery because both regions had different opinions regarding the same (Roark 372). In other words, the South promoted slavery whereas majority of people in the Northern region were against the practice thus leading to the Civil War.
References
Faragher, John Mack, et al. Out of Many: A History of the American People, Combined Volume. Pearson, 2014.
Roark, James L., et al. Understanding the American Promise: A History. Bedford/St. Martins, 2017.