Slavery in the United States

Slavery in the US The institution of slavery in the US attracted two opposing sides, the proslavery and antislavery. The clashing views of two groups are found in various documents that espouse their positions on the issue at the time when the US and, by extension, the world sought to end slavery. The proponents and opponents of slavery applied the analytical concepts of democracy, capitalism, difference, and equality when their arguments to support their divergent viewpoints on slavery.

The proponents of slavery argued for the value of slavery to sustaining capitalism, emphasizing the interdependence between salve labor, cotton production, cotton industries, and clothing the world. David Christy wrote that it was impractical to abolish slavery because cotton production in southern states was critical to the north, Britain, and making cloth for the world.

His analysis of the capitalism at the time indicated that the North States produced food that fed slaves who labored in the South, implying that an end to slavery would diminish the market for the northern state, a reason enough for the north to support slavery.

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Moreover, Christly argued that Britain's cotton industry, which employed many, relied on cotton supplied by Southern states. Britain would suffer serious economic losses if the southern states failed to produce enough cotton to meet the market demands. To Christly, the abolition of slavery would mean that cotton production is severely interrupted, making it challenging to meet the demands for its supply by Britain. According to Christly, Britain would resist any attempt to interrupt the supply of cotton.

The value of slavery in the capitalism of cotton was also used by Christly to argue for slavery. In his argument, Christly argued that ending slavery would affect the production of clothes due to the low production of cotton, a development that many would not accept. The supply of cotton was a requirement to maintain a steady supply of clothing across the world.

Christly reasoned that the happiness of the world would be negatively impacted if slavery was abolished because the supply of clothes would diminish. The argument was premised on the thinking that southern states were the major supplier of cotton in the world and that slavery was the only satisfying source of labor need in cotton farming. Consequently, the proslavery tied slavery to the happiness of the whole world to justifies the perpetuation.

Antislavery groups turned to aspects of American democracy to defend their position against slavery in the US. The main rallying point was the constitutional provision that all men are created equal and have a right to enjoy the inalienable right to life, pursue happiness, and live as free humans. In the document "The American Anti-Slavery Society's 'Declaration of Sentiments,'" the author emphasized the importance of the aforementioned values of American democracy. The values that the founding father of American democracy entrenched in the constitution are leveraged to firm the antislavery points.

The abolitionists looked at slavery as a violation of American democracy, something that America cannot be proud of as a free country. The rights and freedoms of the enslaved people are projected as intertwined with American democracy. The constitution is a major pillar in the USA democracy because it provides the much-needed foundation of values that promote good governance. Slavery is not one of those values, for it goes against the spirit and letter of the constitution.

The abolitionist held that slavery alienated the right to liberty, which slaves were entitled to as human beings and Americans. African Americans were part of the American war of independence, which makes them part and parcel of the American population. As such, the abolitionist, through the "Declaration of Sentiments," stated that no one had legitimate authority or right to put a fellow human into bondage in the name of slavery. According to the abolitionists, the institution of slavery was not only immoral but also illegal. As a result, it was upon the right-thinking men and women to rise and call for the ending of slavery to guarantee all the right to liberty.

In conclusion, the proponent and opponents of slavery used capitalism and democracy to support their respective positions on the topic. The proslavery forces analyzed the economic value of slaves to the entire economy that is linked to cotton production to vouch for slavery. In contrast, proponents analyzed tenants of American democracy to oppose the institution of slavery. The opponents anchored their arguments in the American constitution, highlighting the protection of inalienable rights and freedoms as a stepping stone to demonize slavery. The opponents offered a compelling argument that was in agreement with events of the time - an era when slavery was still a problem. The arguments by proponents of slavery made some sense because labor was still manual-based, and cotton farming in American was tied to the cotton

textile industry in Britain and colonialism. The proponents' sentiments are irrelevant in the contemporary world and can offend not only African Americans but also the free world. The sentiments of opponents are still valuable in the contemporary world where equality among all Americans is a problem, particularly concerning racial discrimination of African Americans and police killings.