Lecture Notes: Global and Regional Slavery in the United States

Overview

• Discussion focuses on global and regional aspects of slavery, especially as the U.S. approaches the Civil War era.
• Regions of focus include the Northeast, the South, and the West, each benefiting differently from slavery.

Regional Benefits of Slavery

• Northeast: Benefits by converting southern cotton into cloth for global markets.
• South: Directly involved in cotton production and export, significant impact on local and global economies.
  • Britain is the largest consumer of southern cotton.
• West: Expansion raises questions about the future of slavery in new states.

Technological Impact

• Cotton Gin: Invented in 1793, significantly increases cotton production by refining cotton more efficiently.

Legal and Illegal Slave Trade

• End of Legal International Slave Trade: Outlawed by the U.S. Constitution in 1808.
• Continued Trafficking: Illegal trade continues, both internationally and within the U.S.

Demographics and Economics

• By 1850, 3.2 million enslaved people in the U.S., with 1.8 million producing cotton.
• Two-thirds of white households did not own slaves, yet many supported slavery due to economic dependencies.
• Stark wealth disparity with most capital owned by the top 10%.

Labor and Industrialization

• South: Enslaved labor dominates agriculture.
• North: Unskilled wage labor in factories, turning cotton into cloth.
• Major cities like New York and New Orleans are economic hubs reliant on slavery.

Federal and Social Dynamics

• Gag Rule in Congress: Prevents discussion on ending slavery, maintaining status quo.
• Northern Perspective: Slavery is an intellectual/moral issue, mostly out of sight.
• Southern Perspective: Slavery seen as a natural order.

Racism and Social Hierarchies

• General societal agreement on racial inequality, with efforts to distance from Blackness to gain social benefits.

Religion and Morality

• Anti-Slavery Religion: Figures like Frederick Douglass argue against slavery's morality.
• Pro-Slavery Religion: Some interpret the Bible as justifying slavery.

Global Politics and Economics

• American Colonization Society: Advocates for sending freed slaves to Africa, with limited success.
• Global Power of Cotton: U.S. South's cotton production is akin to internet dominance; it's crucial for global economy.
• Britain heavily relies on cotton for its textile industry.

Business and National Economics

• Cotton is a key economic tool, allowing the U.S. to borrow internationally.
• Economic cooperation between North and South is vital for maximizing profits internationally.

Conclusion

• Discussion on slavery's integral role in shaping regional, national, and global economies.
• Open invitation for further questions and discussions.