American Antebellum Slavery And The Civil War - 1949 Words

The dictionary definition of an apologist is, â€Å"one who speaks or writes in defense of someone or something.† It also defines elide as to, â€Å"to leave out of consideration.† Two key terms to understand when talking about American antebellum slavery. One might put their soul at ease by the enduring thought that southern slaves were treated amicably; however, this is not the truth. Slave holders and their apologist alike wanted their fellow citizens to feel as though their slaves were conditioned to superior treatment and conditions. Eliding that free black life and slavery were synonymous...This could not be portrayed more inaccurately. Ira Berlin introduces Solomon Northup s memoir, 12 Years A Slave, depicting slaves as, â€Å"cogs in a great†¦show more content†¦Moss might be used were it not that it directly breeds a swarm of flies.† Superior conditions, indeed. The slaves work in the field ceased at sunset, but this only began their second shi ft. All slaves had some form of chore they were responsible for, whether feeding the animals or cutting wood; conversely, when they get to retreat to their lavish cabins, the plantation hands proceeded to kindle their fire, ground corn mean in a small hand-mill and prep their food for their next day of leisurely field work. There was no rest for the weary. The women were forced into sexual submissions by their masters. The riches do not end there; there is more, Berlin describes the demeanor of the slaves in their submissions, â€Å"slaves learned to lower their eyes, take off their hats, and bare their heads in front of a white man – the â€Å"down-cast eyes and uncovered head – in the attitude and language of a slave.† Southern slaveholders in the 19th century were completely delusional...The claim, that their slaves were treated superior, was merely to ease their own subconscious; moreover, they presumed that this mentality would give them a chance to hide b ehind false pretenses, then maybe, the rest of the world would not get a glimpse into their sick and demented ways. However, slaveholders trying to persuade society of this mindset, are nothing more than awful jesters that are notShow MoreRelatedPeter Kolchin : American Slavery review1708 Words   |  5 Pagesfrom John Hopkins University. He now specializes in nineteenth-century U.S. history, the South, slavery and emancipation, and comparative history. In his career he has written many books on slavery including Unfree Labor: American Slavery and Russian Serfdom and First Freedom: The Responses of Alabama s Blacks to Emancipation and Reconstruction (Peter Kolchin...). In 1993, his third book American Slavery was published and 10 years later a revised copy was released which featured a new preface andRead MoreThe Great Awakening Of The Antebellum Period1524 Words   |  7 PagesThe Antebellum Period was the time after the War of 1812 and just before the Civil War (Lapsansky-Werner ). With the growing cotton plantation in the south, more slaves were needed and more slaves needed to escape (Antebellum Period.). While the Antebellum Period brought the Second Great Awakening and Westward Expansion, it is also known for the uprising of abolition and anti versus pro slavery arguments (Antebellum Period.). The antebellum period was overall a pivotal point in slavery and slaveRead MoreThe Rise of the Anti-Slavery Movement in the US Essay867 Words   |  4 PagesThroughout the history of America, the struggle between white and black Americans is by the far the most complex and long standing issue. Beginning with first contact between white Europeans and Africans during the English colonial period, Africans were immediately labeled with terms including savage and heathen. During the Antebellum period, institution of chattel slavery in America certain ideas of what the black man’s role in society became widely known and accepted. Stereotype such as the SamboRead MoreAmerican Civil War and Religion Essay1155 Words   |  5 PagesOne of the important subjects during the civil war was Religion even though it received minor attention until recent years. Historians have considered civil war an important story of war; however, religion rose as an important factor with many publications. For example â€Å"Religion and the American Civil War† is a collection of essays and poems by various writers (Harry S. Stout, George Reagan Wilson, etc.1) A survey of the civil war history from around 1970 to the present provides a very extensiveRead MoreEssay about The American Civil War688 Words   |  3 PagesThe American Civil war was a series of transactions, or exchanges, between the North and the South. These transactions involved over 1 million Americans who put their lives at risk for the liberation of the country’s slaves. These transactions were influenced by three paramount concepts: perspectives, values, and relative evaluations of costs and benefits. In the midst of this tumultuous period of time in American history, these concepts shaped not just the people themselves but the social, politicalRead MoreAmerican History: The Development of the Ironwork Industry in Alabama1088 Words   |  5 Pages The perspective of many historians and textbooks usually consist of the same general understanding of specific issues in American history. For example, key events or battles such as _____, or common trends that aid in t he understanding of how society operated at that point in history. However, many American history textbooks avoid the topic of widespread manufacturing industries in the south, and their simultaneous development with the much more powerful agricultural industry. Set in the Deep SouthRead MoreThis Document Discusses The Narrative Of One Of The Most1136 Words   |  5 Pages This document discusses the narrative of one of the most recognizable civil rights advocates, and the most famous African American abolitionist during the antebellum period of America s history, Fredrick Douglass. The excerpt is taken from one of the versions of Douglass’s autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, published in 1845-era Boston, Massachusetts. The original version of this excerpt could be found in his autobiography from pages 39 – 43. This excerptRead MoreThe North And South Regions Of The United States1391 Words   |  6 Pageshome to a state con gress and governor. However, during the antebellum period of the United States everything wasn’t as blissful as it is today. The antebellum period is the period after the War of 1812 and before the Civil War in 1861. Some people may say that the Antebellum period was a period of great awakening with a lot of prosperity because of manufacturing, while others may say it was a dark time in the nation s history due to slavery. During this time, the country was divided and was newlyRead MoreTraditional Views Of The Antebellum South986 Words   |  4 PagesTraditional views of the Antebellum South oftentimes ignore class divides within the American South. African-Americans and Whites are oftentimes viewed as being divided by race with all Whites and African-Americans being equal. However these ideals ignore the seventy-five percent of southerners which did not own slaves and the steep divides between African-American slaves with different roles. Primary sources from authors who experienced the Antebellum South, the American Civil War, and, or ReconstructionRead MoreThe Effects Of Slavery In Soul By Soul By Walter Johnson1250 Words   |  5 PagesWhen referring to the history Antebellum America, the two things that shape our country are the expansion of slavery and the expansion of the Market Revolution. In the novel Soul by Soul, by Walter Johnson, the author exploits the effects of slavery on the people involved with slave trade in the south. It also shows the reader just how vital slavery is to the Market Revolution, and how the consumers culture, in turn, shaped personal identities. Both slavery and the Market Revolution shaped presidential