What were the reasons why America kept slavery around for so long despite our democratic constitution?

Answer 1

because slavery made production cheaper.

Answer 2

During the mid-19th century, the federal government was not as strong as it is today. Significant power rested with the individual states. States' rights were especially defended by the states that eventually seceded from the Union before the start of the Civil War/War Between the States. There was major resistance to any direction coming from outside. In addition, there was the sentiment that the United States only existed at the pleasure of the individual states who could leave when they wanted.

Now add to this that a significant portion of the South's economy was based on agriculture that was very labor-intensive. Cotton, indigo and other products were not easily converted to mechanical cultivation. In fact, there were few, if any, machines comparable to tractors and such driven by steam engines anywhere but especially in the South.

So now you've got crops to raise and harvest, crops that provide a fairly decent profit. But you're limited by the number of people you can put into the fields. Slavery provided a cheap source of labor -- self-sufficient, self-reproducing and capable of learning enough to do the tasks set for them. The southern planters were not going to let go of this resource easily.

Were people upset about slavery? Certainly they were, even then. However, when the country was set up, this concept of individual states making up the US was a major point. The southern states, seeing as how they had limited white population, actually drove a compromise to count slaves as 3/5ths of a person when coming up with the number of representatives that would sit in the House.

In the end, it took the unfortunate unpleasantness of 1861-65 along with improvements in mechanization of agricultural equipment and economic forces to eliminate slavery.

Answer 3

The reason slavery was kept around for so long was due to cultural/society's views of the time. At that time, it was not looked upon as a politically or socially incorrect. So, until the cultural leaders of the time were able to sway opinion of the masses that it was wrong, it still existed.

Answer 4

First, the American constitution is republican, not democratic. America is a republic, not a democracy.

America kept slavery due to economics, cheap labor to produce products.

Answer 5

Good God!! You're not one of them liberals who believe GOD, laws, morals and common decency come before the almighty dollar are you? Where's your loyalty boy? That question is UN-American. Next fool thing you'll be trying to put rapists in jail just because they was having a little fun.
Even in humor it just doesn't make it. You know one of the saddest things about slavery is that slaves were bought at slave markets run by blacks. It's bad enough that we whites did such a thing but for blacks to turn against their own people defies logic. As I see it, the best we can hope for is the sign placed at Dachau Death Camp be applied not only to the blacks but to the world at large. "NEVER AGAIN".
Vaya con DIOS

Answer 6

well a couple of things... it was already in widespread use to run large plantations and its hard to change somthing that is an institutionalized part of the economy. what gets me is people gasp like its such an atrocity that we had slaves .... my God... it shows a complete lack of knowledge about the conditions that brought them here ..... slaves came from tribes in africa that defeated rivals ... they used to just kill them all but found out that they could make money by selling the defeated and captured instead of killing them .... so if you look at it like that .... if it wasnt for slavery theyre sorry asses wouldnt even exist because theyre ancestors would be dead. ... i guess its one of those situations where you need to count ur blessing to ... slavery wasnt a new idea and it existed since the beginning of recorded history ... people of that time in our history saw nothing wrong with it ... you conquer a people and instead of killing them you make them slaves and servants ...big whoopdy doo ... to them at that time to give a slave rights is the same as today someone saying to give illegal immigrants rights - citizenship - and full civil liberties under the constitution .... are you ready to do that as a person against slavery? no? your no better than they were at that time then so zip your lip.

Answer 7

At that time....slavery/indentured servitude were considered debts. Pre-existing debts had to be paid. Other than kidnapped/traded slaves, some entered into it willingly for some service they were provided.

If you have a credit card....you are a slave. You have to work to repay the debt created for a service provided by the Credit company.

Answer 8

first it wasent all america just south america north america banned it and were trying to make south america ban it to thats why there was the civil war but because the southern did most agriculture so cheaper labor while north were more industry people

Answer 9

because keeping all those slave around, America was able to become the richest country in the world.

Answer 10

greed