Why has slavery in America traditionally been identified only as a Southern phenomenon?

Question

Are you aware that New York City had more enslaved Africans than any other American city except Charleston, S.C. before the American Revolution? Did you know that, during that period, 20% of New Yorkers were enslaved, or that - at one point - 40% of New York's households owned slaves? Are you aware that a vast slave cemetery in lower Manhattan is estimated to hold 20,000 graves of African slaves, or that it was discovered during the building of a skyscraper in 1991? Was the cemetery, as evidence seems to indicate, deliberately hidden in an attempt to to conceal New York's complicity in the slave trade?

http://www.pww.org/article/articleview/8186/1/296

It's also amazing to me that so many Americans don't know that Benjamin Franklin, himself, owned two household slaves. He promised them their freedom, but they died in the bonds of slavery. Northern apologists, including the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, go to incredible lengths to excuse him, and never hold him accountable for his behavior.

Answer 1

For the same reason so many are incorrectly led to believe the Civil War was fought over slavery. The populace as a whole was not told or taught the truth. I have come to feel people in our country like quick and easy answers. They do not like to see how much gray does in fact exist in virtually everything. Slavery in the North did die out earlier than in the South. That is correct. However,did the North not wear the clothing made from slave picked cotton? Of course!! See the gray?

Answer 2

OMG what are they teaching u guys in school these days? the south didn't go to war over slavery in fact only 20% of all southerners even owned slaves . slaves weren't cheap yall only the big plantion owners could afford them and those who did own slaves were not required to be in the confederate army so ask your self this next time why would a man that would gain no benefit from slavery fight for the South? slavery was on it's way out the door BTW most people don't even know that Maryland was a slave state during the war hmm i wonder why maybe because they sided with the union ? and lets not forget the Irish who were treated worse than a slave up north

Answer 3

For the same reason people think the Emacipation Proclamation actually freed the slaves. It was a document to keep England and France from helping the South. They wouldn't join if convinced that the War was over slavery, after all they recently released their slaves. All it said was that it was freeing the slaves in the Rebel States. States that no longer were part of the Union. It didn't free the slaves in the North. U.S. Grant had slaves after the war and Lee had freed his prior. Makes you think doesn't it? The North wrote the books and wrote them to make themselves look good.

Answer 4

Slaves were concentrated in the south due to their need for extensive numbers of laboreres on tobacco and cotton plantations. The need in the north was just not there. Slaves in the north worked as house servants. It's interesting to note that the majority of northerners who opposed slavery prior to the Civil War did so not for moral reasons but for economic ones. They were worried that if the south industrialized, as the north was already doing, the free labor in the south would overcome the north's economy. Also, immigrants were worried that low paying jobs normally filled by immigrants would instead go to slaves.

Answer 5

The main reason is simple. The south was not ready to abandon the practice when the north did. Thereby in essence washing their hands of the matter collectively. And being the victors of the civil war, the north was afforded the privilege of writing the story for that period in American history

Answer 6

in case you mean u . s . a ., slavery began in early August of 1619 at the same time as a deliver carrying slaves from Africa docked in Jamestown, Virginia. earlier to that date there have been no slaves held through Europeans in what's now the united states of a, however many Indian tribes enslaved captives from rival tribes. monetary situations in the southern colonies inspired using slaves. The practice spread to the north, fairly ny and Connecticut. It replaced right into a lot less in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, 2 colonies commonplace for non secular motives, and which for only such motives adversarial slavery. ny abolished slavery in 1827.

Answer 7

the people that wrote american history are all liars, talk to the native americans. then remember that winnners of wars write history, not the loosers. If you work for pay in a factory are you still a slave? we have american companies firing people who smoke in their free time. So you think your free? Ha! Better unlearn the American racist brainwashing cause pride is the deadliest sin, and wake up and smell the roses, cause buddy, it ain't gonna lasst much longer. The Americans are the biggest bullies, racist, homicidal, genocidal nation right up there with Japan and Germany after ww two, that's why america adopted all the nazi and japaneese scientists.

Answer 8

Plus slavery was not a worthwhile enterprise in the industrial north. It was far more practical to pay your worker a small wage than it was to clothe, feed, and house a slave. A steady flow of immigrants into the north also kept the wages down (according to supply and demand).

Answer 9

It just goes to show how selectively history is taught. To me it just helps to show the south as evil slave holders and not the north. Many New England states did abolish slavery fairly quickly after the revolution. Who know maybe that's why.

Answer 10

Because the victors write the history books. There are some newer histories which do show that the North was culpable in many ways as well (Yankee ships were heavily used in the slave trade!)