The Eighteenth Century Slavery - Essay Sample

Introduction

There was a rapid increase in the demand for slaves on the westward side due to the increasing demand for services. This expansion created questions on the federal government's contribution towards ensuring the interests of the slave owners were safeguarded. The rising demand for slaves resulted in the massive decline of wages and land loss as the rich whites could capably supervise the lands with ease. The north was slowly getting rid of slavery, and they started to receive more slaves escaping bondage to the free north. The southerners wanted the government to declare its support for slavery and ensure escaping slaves returned to the south; the north, on the other hand, was keen on protecting the rights of the slaves, making it a favorite hub for the slaves (Locke & Wright, 2019).

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There was a significant disagreement between the west and the other states as they were against slavery. As America was expanding to the west, the new lands were classified as free lands, which mean that slavery would not be tolerated. The west believed that the people classified as slaves also had rights and should not be subjected to forced labor. However, this position was compromised amid a crisis whereby the slave states argued that they also needed part of the land cultivated by slaves. Maine has thus declared a free state in exchange for Missouri, which was declared a slave state

The Sectional Conflict

With the north and the south supporting different ends of slavery, there was a brewing conflict with a political crisis on which side would control the government. Enslaved workers gave endless opportunities to the masters as they could generate more wealth from the various works in the farms. The debates on slavery contributed to the conflict between the multiple states' rights since each seemed to hold to varying perspectives of the idea of slavery. As the United States expanded its territory to the west, slavery was banned in these lands according to Article VI of 1787 of Northwest Ordinance. The admission of Kentucky and Vermont into Free states was a clear indication of the government's intention to get rid of slavery. The Louisiana expansion to cover cotton farmlands was particularly a significant factor in the sectional conflict. The expansion of plantation slavery amid the growth of cotton farms resulted in sectional differences after 1803. The leading cause of the difference was the Ohio River, whereby Kentucky and Tennessee admitted slaves to work in the farms. Illinois, Ohio, and Indiana, on the other hand, were persistent on remaining Free states. Several laws created in the west undermined the blacks and were meant to keep the blacks off the west. Africans were denied access to school, no voting rights, and were not allowed to work as juries. The restrictions against the Africans contributed immensely to the sectional conflict (Locke & Wright, 2019).

The Missouri Territory was by far the largest factor that contributed to the conflict. This region was along the Mississippi River, with trade headquarters and significant slave owners. There was, however, a contentious issue on whether this region should be a free state or a slave state. This attracted the attention of Congress in resolving the brewing conflict between the people. In response, Maine was admitted to become a Free State, and all laws in support of slavery were abolished. On the other hand, Missouri was declared a slave state. This was to ensure that both sides had benefitted depending on the sides they supported. This opened the conversation on the divisiveness of slavery and the need for the leaders to take a strong on the subject of slavery. Even with the consensus to allow slavery in some states, the Westward side pushed against this consensus, arguing against slavery. The differences were further sharpened by the great awakening, which created an even more serious conflict between them.

The Secession of the South

The antislavery movement picked momentum in the United States as the Northerners and the Westerners strived to eliminate slavery from the United States. The sovereignty to territories of New Mexico and Utah allowed the people to make their own decision and seek guidance from the Supreme Court. As more states such as California were declared free states, the southerners felt threatened that Washington's secret power was against their interests. This led to them seeking their secession from the rest of the United States. This would allow them to declare themselves a slave state and continue using the slaves in their various farming activities. The southerners benefited greatly from slaves working in their cotton farms; hence they were unwilling to let this opportunity go.

Conclusion

The demand for slaves was very high as masters sought labor for their farms. Slavery slavery business boomed in the United States due to the vast lands that needed cultivation. During this period there was no mechanized farming and this posed a challenge to large scale farming. The states of the south were advocates for slavery given they directly benefitted from cotton farming which was labour intensive. The south was very supportive of slavery given their large farms; the North and the West, on the other hand, fought against slavery. The stand against slavery was particularly very serious that the government had to compromise Maine to allow slavery in Missouri, which was initially a free state. A conflict existed due to a difference in opinion between the two divides as each pursued differing views on slavery. The North and West argued that slavery undermined the principle of human rights, instead advocating for the freedom of the people. Many slaves escaped to the north against the slavery imposed on them with the aim of starting their own lives. This created a major conflict with the south that resulted in the recommendation for cessation to allow the states in the south to make their own decisions without the influence of the federal government.

References

Locke, J. L., & Wright, B. (2019). The American Yawp. Stanford University Press.