Regional Attitudes (College Board AP® US History)
Study Guide
Written by: Kristin Marciniak
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Summary
Great Britain’s industrial revolution increased the demand for cotton, and the invention of the cotton gin increased the rate at which cotton could be processed. Both events heightened the demand for enslaved labor in the South, where the institution of slavery was widely practiced and accepted.
Support for slavery was waning in the North as the 18th century drew to a close. Many people had trouble reconciling the idea that a country founded on the principles of freedom and equality also enslaved other humans. Religious organizations built the foundation of the abolition movement, which led to several Northern states adopting gradual emancipation laws.
Slavery Divides a Nation
Enslaved labor and the South
In the South, the need for enslaved labor was a sign of regional economic prosperity and personal wealth
One cause of the increased demand for enslaved labor in the South was the invention of the cotton gin in 1793
It mechanically separated cotton fibers from their seeds, which greatly sped up cotton processing
Faster processing meant that farmers could grow and sell greater quantities of cotton during a single season
They needed more enslaved laborers to pick the cotton from the fields
The Industrial Revolution in Great Britain also increased the demand for enslaved labor in the South
The British textile industry moved out of people’s homes and into factories in the mid-1700s
Factory owners purchased a lot of their raw cotton from the American South
Machines turned it into yarn, then wove the yarn into fabric
To meet the rising demand for cotton, plantation owners expanded their land holdings into the West
They also had to increase the number of people they enslaved to work in the fields
A farmer or plantation owner’s wealth and status were determined not only by the size of his farm or home but by how many enslaved people they owned
Anti-slavery movement
In the North, people began to realize that their new nation was founded on the ideals of liberty and equality yet denied those rights to a large portion of the population
The first anti-slavery supporters were Quakers and Mennonites
Puritans also believed that the enslavement of others was morally wrong
In 1790, Benjamin Franklin urged Congress to abolish slavery
Congress decided that doing so would violate the Constitution, which said no national laws about slavery could be made until 1808
Several northern states passed laws that gradually abolished slavery
Examiner Tips and Tricks
It can be tempting to cast certain historical figures and groups as the villains and other people and groups as the morally upstanding heroes. Do not fall into that trap. History is about real people, and people are complicated. This is especially true when it comes to people’s views about slavery before the Civil War.
It is natural to think that Northerners were on the “right” side of history because many wanted to end the institution of slavery. Yet:
Any Northerner who purchased goods made from cotton grown in the South benefited from enslaved labor, especially if those goods were cheaper than goods made from cotton grown elsewhere
The North’s economy was built on industry, and some of that industry relied on Southern cotton for raw materials
Many Northerners did not think Africans and African Americans were equal to white people
Many white Northerners also did not think that African Americans should have the same rights, or even live in the same communities, that they did
Including these nuances as you respond to short answer and essay questions will demonstrate the depth and knowledge of your understanding of the subject.
Worked Example
Why was Benjamin Franklin unsuccessful in his quest to get Congress to abolish slavery in 1790?
A. Southern Congressmen knew their constituents would not support a national ban on slavery.
B. Congressmen feared that abolishing slavery before 1808 would be a violation of the Constitution.
C. Northern Federalists in Congress believed that the question of slavery should be decided by the states.
D. Congress could not see a path forward for assimilating formerly enslaved people into American society.
Answer:
B, Congressmen feared that abolishing slavery before 1808 would be a violation of the Constitution. The Constitution included a clause that said the federal government must wait at least 20 years from the Constitution’s writing before any laws about slavery could be made. The Constitution is the ultimate law of the land. If Congress makes a new law that goes against what the Constitution says, that new law is void.
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