why did some northern workers oppose of the antislavery movement?

Answer 1

If the slaves were freed, they could become a cheap labor force and it could take the jobs from the Northern worker.

Answer 2

Twofold--

The free slaves would threaten to take jobs away from Northern Laborers.

Also, most laborers were of one ethnic group or another (few people emmigrated from a deserted island where they were the only person of their race) and they had alread fought huge battles to gain footholds in their various fields of work. Italians, Irish...you name it...many of their kinfolk had spilled their blood for the sake of their tribal group.

The idea that slaves (not just blacks, but black slaves) should somehow be freed and given equal footing with them--the established ethnic groups--was a bit too much for many to stand.

This is quite similar to the current status of undocumented workers/illegal aliens.

For years "these people" have been nothing more than seasonal labor on farms. The came from nowhere and they went back there when the work was done.

Now, many reside here year-round, for many years in many cases, and they (undocumented laborers) start using the hospitals and schools and other "perks" that citizens have always considered their own private right.

So, you have this big uprising against undocumented labor, and an even BIGGER uprising against the citizen protestors, for the undocumented/illegal laborers feel that it is time for full emancipation from a status equal to slavery or serfdom.

They want a chance to compete for jobs other than tomatoe pickers and busboys and hotel maids...and when we look at the situation in comparison to the plight of civil war slaves, who can blame them.

After all, those who opposed slavery would claim that the slaves were not here legally either...they claimed that a higher law; the law of God and preamble to The Constitution, declared that these people were here illegally.

Since the solution in that case was to declare a legal status for them, is it a wonder that the undocumented workers/illegal aliens of today expect nothing less?

Answer 3

Besides the reasons listed above regarding rivals for factry jobs. Factory workers in the textile industries might have been opposed to abolishing slavery because they thought freeing the slaves would raise the cost of producing cotton on southern planatations. The plantation owners would then pass the cost on to northern factory owners, who might then lay off workers to cut costs. And regarding the two or three people above who stated it was because of northern slavery - that is completely false. Even when slavery was legal in the north, it was quite rare, The few people who did have slaves had one or two house servants.

Answer 4

That's what the New York draft riot was about during the Civil War

Answer 5

Because if you study into the history of it, the northern states had a lot of slaves also.

Answer 6

labor rivalry

Answer 7

They had slaves.