Racial Discrimination In The 1800s
Discrimination is very old in its origins. From the earliest periods of human existence, groups developed prejudices toward others and then discriminated against those whom they regarded as different or inferior. Many attempts were taken to maintain or increase power, prestige, or even wealth; groups found it easy to invent or accept the idea that others were somehow inferior to them and thus not deserving of equal treatment. Among the many differences that could be used as a basis for discrimination, people quickly discovered that physical appearance was the easiest to identify. It required no subtle analysis, no careful contemplation, but only a superficial glance at those visual features that would later be used to identify "race".
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Slavery is a perfect example. Racial animosity grew in both the North and South, and in many instances led to physical violence.
The era of slavery should have been called the era of inhumanity. Slavery was inhumane, barbaric, and ultimately disgusting. In 1800 the population of the United States included 893,602 slaves, of which only 36,505 were in northern states (Phillips 18). Slaves were treated as if they were a piece of meat. The defined characteristics of slaves are as follows, " their labor or services are obtained through force; their physical beings are regarded as the property of another person, their master; they are entirely subject to their master's or owner's will" (Phillips 17). Slave life according to historians has never been and will never be classified as a so-called idyllic experience. There was little in the …show more content…
Many slave owners felt this way. The creation of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney greatly increased the cotton production in the Southern states, thus increasing the demand for slaves. The number of slaves in the south nearly doubled to over one and half million (Collier 34). So why abolish slavery now? Production is higher than ever, the work is getting done more quickly, and plantation owners are making tremendous amounts of money. One can answer the simple question why, why abolish slavery? Because it is wrong, morally, ethically, politically, and it goes completely against what this country stands for
Slavery is a perfect example. Racial animosity grew in both the North and South, and in many instances led to physical violence.
The era of slavery should have been called the era of inhumanity. Slavery was inhumane, barbaric, and ultimately disgusting. In 1800 the population of the United States included 893,602 slaves, of which only 36,505 were in northern states (Phillips 18). Slaves were treated as if they were a piece of meat. The defined characteristics of slaves are as follows, " their labor or services are obtained through force; their physical beings are regarded as the property of another person, their master; they are entirely subject to their master's or owner's will" (Phillips 17). Slave life according to historians has never been and will never be classified as a so-called idyllic experience. There was little in the …show more content…
Many slave owners felt this way. The creation of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney greatly increased the cotton production in the Southern states, thus increasing the demand for slaves. The number of slaves in the south nearly doubled to over one and half million (Collier 34). So why abolish slavery now? Production is higher than ever, the work is getting done more quickly, and plantation owners are making tremendous amounts of money. One can answer the simple question why, why abolish slavery? Because it is wrong, morally, ethically, politically, and it goes completely against what this country stands for