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Some whites in the South justified slavery on the basis of religion (using biblical passages such as the so-called "curse of Ham" or the passage in Philemon where Paul seemingly supports slavery) to say "God has put whites in power over blacks; therefore, slavery is OK." Others justified slavery for economic reasons: "It's cheap to use slaves' free labor; the economy will collapse if we have to pay them." Others used fallacious scientific reasons (such as "whites have bigger skulls than blacks, so slavery is OK because whites must be smarter"). Others used cultural reasons ("slavery is part of the Southern way of life"). Others were just racist ("blacks are degraded animals and inferior to us; we can do whatever we want to them"). Many used a combination of several of these reasons.

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16y ago
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16y ago

On the basis of "property" rights.

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Q: How did Southern whites attempt to defend slavery?
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Related questions

Which groups of southern whites did not defend slavery?

mountain people


Why northern whites who opposed slavery and southern whites who supported slavery both believed they were fighting to defend liberty?

You have to understand the war had VERY LITTLE to do with slavery.


On what subject did northern whites and southern whites agree?

slavery


Did slavery warp southern whites?

Yes, slavery had a profound impact on Southern whites, shaping their beliefs about race, power, and privilege. The system of slavery normalized exploitation and dehumanization, leading to deeply ingrained attitudes of superiority and entitlement among many white Southerners. This legacy continues to influence social dynamics and racial disparities in the region today.


What books did pro-slavery Southern whites use to defend slavery?

Pro-slavery Southern whites used religious texts like the Bible to argue that God condoned slavery, as well as pseudoscientific works like "Types of Mankind" to promote the idea of racial superiority. They also referenced historical and legal justifications for slavery, such as the concept of states' rights and property rights.


Poor southern whites fought to defend their?

Poor southern whites fought to defend many things. These people fought to keep their land, their rights, and often their workers.


Did the patriots want slavery?

The Southern whites were FOR slavery and the Northern whites were AGAINST slavery. So using the word patriots isn't correct because Americans are all considered patriots.


How did slavery start in the southern colonies?

Slavery began in Virginia and Maryland on tobacco farms. Slavery became more and more important as farms became bigger. That divided the Southern whites into two classes.


Why did whites think slavery was good?

White people believed slavery was good for various reasons, including economic gain, social status, and cultural beliefs about race superiority. The institution of slavery provided free labor for agriculture and industry, enabling economic success for slave owners. Additionally, prevalent racist ideologies at the time justified the subjugation of Black people as a means to maintain power and control.


What did poor Southern whites fight to defend?

There was great variation in the reasons for fighting. As generalisations though, some of the prime reasons that poor whites fought were to defned their homeland and to maintain the Southern society that they were familiar with.


What was the attitude of southern whites towards slavery?

Many southern whites supported and benefited from slavery, as it provided cheap labor for their agricultural economy. They viewed it as a necessary institution for their way of life and believed that they had the right to own slaves. Additionally, some saw slavery as a key component in maintaining their social hierarchy and preserving their power and privilege.


Who did slavery?

Whites