Myth-Busting: Doctrinal Northern Pro-Slavery Support During The American Civil War Era
The Myth: Historically, it is often stated that most Americans supported slavery, and that this sentiment was primarily driven by Southern accounts. In contrast, it is sometimes claimed that Northern support for slavery was minimal and primarily undermined by a few entrepreneurs, shipping merchants, and insurance companies.
The Reality: While it is true that Southern states were the primary enforcers of slavery and profited the most from it, Northern states and individuals also played complicated roles in the trafficking, support, and perpetuation of the slave system. However, the narrative of widespread Northern support for slavery is oversimplified and largely inaccurate. Let's delve into the details.
Slavery in the North: A Complicated History
For over 240 years, the North engaged in the Atlantic slave trade. This participation included not only commerce in the Americas but also involvement in the African slave trade. When the North could no longer make money from direct slavery through plantations, they often sold their slaves to Southern planters. But rather than providing support for the freed slaves, this practice often resulted in them being set free unprepared with no jobs, no support, no shelter, no medical care, and no knowledge on how to provide for themselves. This situation was extremely unfortunate and a continuation of the oppressive nature of slavery that the Northern states had previously profited from.
Why Northern States Continued to Support Slavery
One of the primary reasons Northern states continued to support slavery was a desire to avoid confrontation with Southern interests. Many Northerners believed in racial superiority, though not all Northern states were as openly racist as the South. Additionally, Northern insurance companies issued policies to help slaves escape, but they often profited from slave owners and the trade itself by making loans against slave collateral. This hypocrisy meant that while support for slavery may not have been universal, it certainly influenced the decisions of many Northern individuals and institutions.
The Abolition Movement and Northern Support
It is a disservice to history to believe that Northern support for slavery was unanimous. Many Union states and individuals actively supported the cause of abolition. Our Founding Fathers, despite owning slaves themselves, were not silent about their opposition to the institution of slavery. Figures like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson spoke out against slavery. Some even refused to sign the Constitution because it did not outlaw slavery, while others organized the Underground Railroad, risking their lives to help slaves escape to freedom.
The Northern Racial Divide
While many Union individuals were racist and did not believe in the equality of blacks or Native Americans, it shouldn't be overstated that the majority supported slavery. The belief that only Southerners fought to keep people in bondage is a mischaracterization. For example, President Lincoln, while pushing for the abolition of slavery, engaged in a political balancing act that aimed to preserve the Union, which sometimes involved supporting measures that were not favorable to the immediate abolition of slavery.
Anti-Slavery Efforts in the North
Churches and meeting halls in the North were often epicenters of the abolition movement. Clergy and laypeople spoke out vehemently against the wickedness of the slave trade and its moral depravity. These voices were often loud and unyielding. By the 1830s, England and most other advanced states had already made slavery illegal, further highlighting the discrepancy in Northern support versus other parts of the world.
The Drift from Antislavery to Acceptance
It is crucial to understand that while some Northerners did support slavery, their motivations and involvement were often driven by economic interests and pragmatic considerations, rather than a doctrinal acceptance of the institution. This is not to diminish the complexity of the issue, but to accurately portray the history and the roles of both Northern and Southern states in the perpetuation of slavery.
In conclusion, while Southern exploitation and perpetuation of slavery cannot be overstated, it is also important to recognize the complicated and often contradictory nature of Northern support for slavery during the decades leading up to the Civil War. The antebellum period witnessed a mix of support and opposition, reflecting the broader moral and ethical debates that were central to the American experience of the time.