What was it above the northern states that they found slavery to be unacceptable in the U.S.?

Question

Why the north (and Canada) in particular? Was it simply a matter of the plantations being bigger in the South than the farms up north? And even if so, why would that make a difference? What is it about the North that they were more inclined towards human rights?

Answer 1

The issues that caused the Civil War had been brewing since the United States was formed. The most important causes Southerners listed for the war were unfair taxation, states' rights, and the slavery issue.

Please re-read your history. The war was not ALL about slavery!

The history and economy of the North were very different from those of the South. Factories developed in the North, while large cotton plantations developed in the South. The Southern plantation owners relied on slave labor for economic success.
By the early 1800s, Northern factories were producing many of those same goods, and Northern politicians were able to pass heavy taxes on imported goods from Europe so that Southerners would have to buy goods from the North. These taxes angered Southerners.

Southerners felt that the Federal government was passing laws, such as import taxes, that treated them unfairly. They believed that individual states had the right to "nullify", or overturn, any law the Federal government passed. They also believed that individual states had the right to leave the United States and form their own independent country.

Meanwhile, in the North, many religious groups worked hard to end slavery in the United States. They were morally opposed to the idea that one person could "own" another. Southerners believed that abolitionists were attacking their way of life and that the Federal government was not doing enough to protect their "property" from running away.Southerners were also concerned that new states were entering the Union that did not permit citizens to own slaves, because the more "free" states that entered the Union, the weaker Southerners' influence in the Federal government would become.

Answer 2

The south's economy was very much dependent on slavery. In the north, where heavy industries were more common than agriculture, slaves were not in use. The north had less to lose. When there are economic reasons for something, you can bet people will begin to find bad reasons to justify it (look at the fight over the use of D.D.T.). Thus, southern priests and lawyers came out with all sorts of arguments why slavery was right. It was stated blacks had no soul, or that the black slave was not a person, etc... Those "arguments" seem ridiculous today, but they just go to show how far people will go to justify barbaric practices (Think about sweat shops today and how they're really helping to develop the countries where they're located) when money is involved.

Answer 3

It probably had more to do with economics than anything else. The north could not create large plantations due to climate and geography and already had a head start on developing industry and capitalism. Capitalism is a more efficient means of extracting surplus value from humans and the north did not want to give up that advantage to the south.

Answer 4

its strange but if you research this topic you will find that slavery was just as prevalent in the north its just the south felt like it was necessary to survive. part of it was the planting and harvesting seasons were longer in the south because of the climate. blacks were not the worst treated of the slaves, all weren't treated well but because they were considered a valuable property they were treated much better than the irish who were considered expendable. i'm not saying slavery of any group is acceptable but that is the truth of the matter. if you look at today's white supremacist groups the majority are headquartered in the north not the south which makes you wonder about who is really racist. personally i have lived all over the world and by far and away mexico and the northern united states especially the eastern u.s. is more racist and bigoted than any ppl i have met. when up north they find out i was born and raised in the south they automatically think its ok to start spouting racial slurs against blacks, hispanics etc. thinking i think its acceptable...i let them know real quick that the majority of southerners don't think that way.

Answer 5

I has to do with industrialization the north had More city's and had embraced the industrial revolution where the south was more rural and had fewer factories. An interesting note to this is though they abolished slavery with the emancipation proclamation. there where several children and women that where working for almost nothing and that where being chained to their machines and where locked in being forced to work 12 to 16 hour days and where often times beaten for not doing a good job. it took several years before these conditions where fixed.

Answer 6

Quakers, pilgrims, and conservative type religious groups were more sympathetic. Also the north was more educated. And I agree that the plantations required more labor in the south, thus, more slaves.

Answer 7

Easy; Great Capitalism.

The human rights issue was just a scapegoat.