Paternalism: Christian Citizenship

History essay 4 In nineteenth century, paternalism also calls "Christian guardianship". In quote "The concept of paternalism denied that the form of slavery practiced in the South was brutal and exploitative."(404) As we can see, paternalism was kind of hegemonism. It was implicit criticism individual freedom and rights. Also embodies the result of chauvinism. Paternalism was applied to the system of beliefs, which serve in slavery in American. On the other hand, chivalry its follows was the honor, brave moral of ethics and the thought spirit. According to definition in wiki, chivalry was established by economic development and the Christian church standardizes the social of behavior. Otherwise, chivalry has new attitude towards women
which improve the status of women and been gentle to women. The similarities of paternalism and chivalry including same background, the hunt for further honors and more accentuated on masculine. In my essay, I will argue about in the southern paternalism and chivalry which was more positive impacts on human right. From the view of humanity, paternalism has improved the climate of the slave.
"We should endeavor, with those whom fortune has thrown on our hands, to feed and clothe them well, protect them from ill usage....and our duties to them"(405) quote by Thomas Jefferson in 1814. As he says, paternalism was a tool for maintain American slavery system and remind those masters how to plan a long-team development for slave to gain more wealth from them. Many of slave owners realize that the best way could maximize the values of slave was natural reproduction and promote their health. On the surface, I believe the paternalism of spirit as well as that of the progress of society, but look at this abhorrent act were to be implemented; a form of accumulation of wealth at the expense of slave's welfare and life which was
inhumanity. American has the most of slaves than other countries in nineteenth century. The south has been many years since that of the time of slaves. The ideas that were so instilled in those that live in the south have made it hard through the years to accept the possibility that two races could be in a relationship together. By 1860, manufacturing and industry began to spread throughout the Union. North and South began to cooperate more in industry, but also slaves will participate at all walks of life. However, paternalism has treated slave got a bit good life to live but it still never actually do anything constructive to change their reality. I think it was quite condemnatory of the sham Christianity which they saw around them, which justified racism, slavery and oppression. At that time, paternalism in American was kind of new principles upon slave system, or the new rule for every slave owner to follow. On the other hand, paternalism was provided a better survival condition and work. Furthermore, planters started negotiated with slaves instead whipping which was a great manifestation of advancement in history. The hunt for further honors was similar between paternalism and chivalry. "Never tell a lie, nor take what is not your own...Always settle them cases yourself."(407) quote from Andrew Jackson's mother. This quote was showing that how an honorable reputation important to southern male. Southern women had been bred and trained to live in, but just few of them questioned the life.
Most accepted the role of wife, mother, and runner of the household without the power traditionally attached to that title. Their plantation big houses were basically overgrown farm houses. Kitchens were detached and the slave quarters were usually far away from the main house so as to keep them out of the site of the master and his family. A good plantation mistress oversaw food, managed the kitchen garden and worked the gardens, pickled foods and oversaw salting pork. Growing up in a rural environment, daughters learned to write, shoot, and ride. Then, when they reached puberty, mothers taught them more feminine things, like how to ride, sew, dance and sing. They were expected to become all the things that their mothers and grandmothers before them had been. These women were losing their property to the men when they got married, the men that became their husbands which impossible to get divorce at all. On the other end, the men were responsible for these women and they were bound to protect them. The lives of black slave women in the South were dramatically suffering because they were treated more like cattle and worthless beings. Black slave women not only had to withstand the physical labor that they were expected to do, but they withstood the constant sexual advances from their masters. If this happened the woman didn’t have a choice. She had to reciprocate.
Moreover, the law is not allowed black and white intermarrying. As a result, many mulatto children were born. These children were sometimes allowed to stay with their mothers and sometimes were taken away to be raised by the families to be house servants. In conclusion, paternalism includes a person’s liberty and therefore justifies coercion as it is acted with reasons regarding someone’s welfare, happiness, needs and interests. Furthermore, White males took advantage of the bodies of female slaves purely out of sexual lust and not in respect or love for the junior member of the household. Chivalry was a moral system that stated all men should protect others and women. As a person, people should have that urge to do right without getting a reward or to be recognized. Otherwise, southern Chivalry gains too much male chauvinism to subdue women's right and force them to be obedient. At last, paternalism and chivalry were both inexorable demand of American history. That was might not seen like inhumanity to other compared to today. But it was something that the human race has created; it is part of the history of our progress and that is an opportunity really.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chivalry