Slavery in the United States and its Influence on Political and Economic Development until 1865
Slavery in the United States during Colonial Era
The white liberty and black slavery directly shaped both economic and political system of the United States until the abolishment of slavery with the adoption of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution on December 6, 1865. Slavery was common in both Southern and Northern states during the colonial era but gradual abolishment of the institution of slavery in the North at the early 19th century and increased demand for slave labor in the South led to a conflict which has played the key role in the nation’s future economic and political systems.
Institution of Slavery in the North and South
In the North, slavery spread slowly and slaves had never reached much more than 5 percent of population in contrary to South where slaves represented slightly less than 10 percent of total population already in 1680. Why slavery in the North was not as widespread as in the South remains a matter of debate but there is no doubt that it had a major impact on the North’s political and economic development as well.
Slavery and the United States Constitution
In order to win the slave states, the United States Constitution of 1788 has included the right of each state to regulate slavery within its jurisdiction which later became the cause of political tensions between the South and North that led to outbreak of the American Civil War. By the early 19th century, all Northern states abolished slavery, while the number of slaves in the South continued to rise reaching over one third of total population by 1860.
Influence of Slavery on Economic Development in the South
The North industrialized quickly after the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in Europe in the 18th and 19th century, while the South remained mostly rural and depended on manufactured goods from the North. The invention of the cotton gin in 1793 and increasing demand for cotton in Europe in the first half of the 19th century resulted in major growth of cotton industry in Southern states. However, the demand for cotton in Europe increased the demand for slave labor which can be blamed for failure of the Southern economy to adjust to changed economic circumstances. The South’s economic growth and standard were comparable to other wealthy countries at the time but it could not compare to the North in industrialization. Southern states had fewer cities, little industry, less railroads and less European immigrants who arrived in hundreds of thousands to North annually.
Political Tensions over the Institution of Slavery and the American Civil War
Due to higher rate of population growth in the North mostly due to industrial growth that attracted a large number of European immigrants, the South started losing its influence in national government which was the only way to protect its economic interests as well as the institution of slavery. Emergence of abolitionist movement in the North and fear from the so-called “Slave Power Conspiracy” increased the political tensions along the sectional lines and led to collapse of the old Second Party System making the American Civil War inevitable. And it was the North’s economic advantage that turned out to be one of the main causes for the Confederate defeat, especially after it became obvious that European powers will not intervene in the war.
