Causes of the Civil War
Change in Future of Slavery
Slavery was deemed as the cheap labor needed to fuel the cotton economy of the South. It is important to note that the lower South was more dependent on slavery than the upper South. The upper South was more diverse; hence, cotton was not the primary economic activity. It, therefore, meant the upper South was less reliant on slavery compared to the lower South, which relied heavily on cotton production. Even though servitude was still prominent in the entire U.S., the North slowly started moving away from the slave trade. Initially, the North benefitted from selling slaves to the South. Over time, however, the narrative changed following the inception of the Constitution. The Constitution emphasized equality and slavery did not support the equality narrative. The North was against slave trade, which was even more emphasized through the election of Abraham Lincoln, who was anti-slavery.
The election of President Lincoln was seen as a threat by the South, which was pro-slavery. Not only would a ban on slave trade impact cheap labor, but it would also impact the economy, which heavily relied on slavery. Slaves not only worked on cotton plantations but also in other areas such as cooking, cleaning, brick layering, and blacksmith jobs. As urbanization took place, it required a different kind of labor. Immigrant workers coming into the U.S. for a better life were thus more viable. The shift from agriculture to industrialization in urban cities would eventually reduce the need for slave services for the immigrants. Slavery, in this regard, began to lose its importance, and it was evident that further urbanization would eventually impact slavery.
Need for Secession
Therefore, a ban on slavery would not only mean a lack of labor on cotton farms but also in cities that relied on slave services. It is in this regard that the South sought cessation to retain its slavery agenda. The North was becoming industrialized, hence needing a different type of labor force to work in the new factories. Slavery was, therefore, growing more irrelevant in the North. The church leaders and politicians in the South deemed slavery a necessity, while those in the North deemed it unnecessary. The South saw a ban on the slave trade as a route to an economic downfall as the cotton business would collapse. It is important to note that cotton trade steered not only the South’s economy but also the entire U.S. economy.
Slavery was more prominent in the lower South, where cotton plantations were significant. It, therefore, meant that there was a division between the lower and upper South on the slavery issue. The increased interference by the North and internal interference by the upper South played a significant role in secession. The South sought to promote slave trade in the West, which the North was against. Progression to the West would not only have increased slave trade but also slave trade territories. An increase in slave trade territories would automatically translate to political power. In this regard, slave trade was not just an economic aspect but also a political aspect. Having more anti-slavery states meant that political muscle would lean toward the predominantly anti-slavery North. The need for political and economic safety further necessitated cessation to maintain the slavery status quo.
Conclusion
Slavery meant different things to the people involved. For some, it was a form of financial gain through the slave trade. For others, it was a source of labor for farm owners who needed consistent labor. It was also a source of cheap labor as slaves worked menial jobs in various sectors. The Constitution envisioned equal rights, and it is synonymous with civil rights. In this regard, slavery was bound to cease if the Constitution was to be upheld in its entirety.