The topic of slavery has always been a sensitive subject in American history. Due to its various proponents and opponents, it was highly debated and the tension boiled over in the early to mid-1800s. At this time in history, America was acquiring various sizable pieces of land, like Missouri, and having difficulty deciding which would become free states and others slave. As these questioned sparked arguments in the federal government, citizens began to develop their own personal beliefs - the North wanting to abolish slavery, or at the least keep northern states free, and the South wanting to maintain slavery. Many southerners defended the institution of slavery as a positive good, claiming it was deeply rooted in their history, religion, and legal system while also drastically benefitting their economy. Slaves in the South served primarily, but not exclusively, as farm hands, meaning they worked the fields. If slavery were to diminish, these farmers that relied solely on slave labor would lose large sums of money: this would force them to hire …show more content…
Slavery was seen as a necessary evil in many other countries, as it was a crucial factor in a success economy. For example, slavery was allowed in England until outlawed in 1833. Many religious southerners also claimed that slavery had ties to biblical times and characters. They believed Abraham, the first patriarch of Judaism, owned slaves of his own, thereby making it justifiable. Moreover, southerners believed slavery was largely beneficial to the slaves themselves: it brought Christianity and God into their "heathen" lives. Through this introduction to religion, it was believed slaves souls were saved from eternal damnation. Lastly, southerners argued that slaves were offered a better style of living than the poor, free men in Europe. This placed slavery in a different light as it was seen almost as a social