Support for slavery per se never really "hardened" among Southerners. Most people didn't own any slaves and regarded the whole institution as rather dubious.
However the word "slavery" came to be used as a kind of shorthand to denote protection of life, liberty and property. The radical Abolitionists of the North liked to say they would kill all the Southerners, and this alarmed the people of the South and led to secession.
slavery
You have to understand the war had VERY LITTLE to do with slavery.
mountain people
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.
it seperated the races treating non whites as less than whites
Southern farmers Populists Southern whites
Southern pro-slavery whites argued that slavery was a necessary economic institution that was vital to the Southern way of life. They believed that slavery was justified by the Bible and that it was beneficial for both slaves and slave owners. Additionally, they argued that African Americans were inferior and better off under the care of white slave owners.
Many poor southern whites supported slavery due to economic reasons, as it provided them with opportunities for employment in agriculture and industry. Additionally, they believed in the racial hierarchy that justified their societal status above enslaved African Americans. Socially, they also feared competition for jobs and were influenced by the propaganda that portrayed slavery as necessary for maintaining their way of life.
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.
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.
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.
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.