Pennsylvania Vs Deep South Essay

539 Words3 Pages

During the American Revolution, many states wanted to seek independence from Britain. However, Pennsylvania and the Deep South prefered to remain under British rule. Provided that Pennsylvania was a Quaker-controlled government, independence was not favored. The Deep South was largely occupied by Loyalists, colonists who remained supportive of Britain, therefore, they did not want to split from Britain. Pennsylvania and the Deep South were not necessarily interested in seeking independence. Hesitation over independence plagued Pennsylvania’s government because of its mostly Quaker-controlled government, and the fact that it did not have powerful allies like Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia. Pennsylvania’s Quaker-dominant government isolated …show more content…

Slavery was a predominant factor in the South’s way of life. Notably, slaves provided free labor for plantation owners. Many colonists that remained loyal to Britain when the idea of independence first made its round, known as Loyalists, typically were members of the wealthy class in the Deep South. In other words, Loyalists supported Britain, and did not want to become independent from Britain. The British encouraged slaves of rebel masters to escape to British lines, though they were sometimes equivocal on whether the runaways would actually be freed (Frank, 2008). Slaves in the South sided with the British over the issue of independence because the British often promised slaves their freedom in exchange for their support in the Revolution. In essence, the Deep South did not favor independence because Britain endorsed slavery, and the southerners feared that the Patriots would eventually put an end to slavery, thus wreaking havoc on the economic provisions for the wealthy planter class. Overall, Pennsylvania and the Deep South did not want independence for a myriad of reasons. Pennsylvania was disinterested in independence because it did not have powerful allies like other states. The Deep South was also not seeking independence because ultimately, they did not want to lose slavery. The extinction of slavery would cause