A brief look at slavery during the antebellum period of American history.
Slavery has been of significant importance in American history. During the antebellum period (1812 to 1864), slavery supported the economy of the United States, dominated politics, and eventually led to the war between the North and South. The paper shows that even after the Civil War, the legacy left behind by slavery continued to influence American history, from the Reconstruction era of the 1860s and 1870s to the struggle for civil rights during the 20th century.
“Slavery did not become as vital and profitable to the western Virginia economy, and this led many to believe that slavery actually harmed the economy and discouraged immigrants from settling in the region (West pg). Henry Ruffner and other abolitionists based their beliefs on economic and political ramifications rather than moral arguments.”