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African Americans In The Politics Of The South Essay

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It is surprising that the South was able to keep a system in place for such a long time that was detrimental to the overwhelming majority of southerners, both black and white. One factor that I feel was instrumental in keeping the system in place was due to the race bond that all whites felt tied them together as the master race. Being a member of the white race the non- slave owners still participated in civil duties such as serving on juries, voting, making daily rounds to ensure slaves did not escape or incite rebellions. The white race depended on cotton as their staple for their economy which required them to also rely on the slaves to harvest the crops. Not only did the elite farmers depend on the slaves but the non- slave owners …show more content…

Even though, only 5% of the population was represented by the Big Planters and wealthy white business men they were still able to control the politics of the south related to slavery as seen with the three – fifths compromise. They had the money and the contacts to influence the laws that were passed. Due to the number of white men that aspired to join the elite and own slaves the selling of slaves was a major business enterprise in the south. The domestic slave trade evolved when the international slave trade was abolished and planters were changing from wheat to cotton and didn’t need as many slaves to work the crops. This kept the slave trade as a form of economic opportunities for the white man in the form of earning income from selling the slaves, brokering for planters to purchase, owning warehouses to house the slaves, suppliers of clothes and food. The elite farmers controlled the political arena due to having the largest interest in the continuation of the slave trade and used their influence on not only the slaves but the non-white slaveholders

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The Southern states utilized slaves to work their large plantations and to perform other work. Oftentimes, slaves were traded, rented, or sold to pay off debts, thus being treated like objects or property by the slaveowners (Document G). This demonstrates how the slaves dealt with injustice and discrimination while under the white man 's control. Although the Union disagreed with the Confederacy’s use of slavery, 12% of slaves lived in the border states of the North and the South (Document B). While the North had no slaves, the South owned 3,500,000.

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