Andrew Graham

July 25, 2005

History 4000

Annotated Bibliography

 

Proslavery Ideology

 

            There is an extremely unpopular subject in American history, proslavery thought. The institution of slavery still remains as a dark spot in our country. In this paper I will discuss some of the arguments made in favor of slavery. This will be an attempt to show that while these were radical views, they were well supported. It was believed that the fate of America depended on the continuation of slavery. Writers believed that it was biologically impossible for blacks to be capable of being free. Slavery is wrong and through this paper I hope to expose the extreme racism that existed during this time disguised as science and intellect.

 

 

Secondary Sources:

 

1. Ambrose, Douglas. Henry Hughes and Proslavery Thought in the Antebellum

                        South. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1996.

 

This book is about Henry Hughes and his views on the proslavery argument. He is noted as being a good, intellectual source in the antebellum south. He attempts to use social science as a means to justify slavery as an ideal condition of society. I would use book to show that there were people who put a great deal of thought into their arguments in favor of slavery. This book is available through the UGA library or through GIL Express.

 

2. Bach Jr., Julian S. “The Social Thought of the Old South.” The American

            Journal of Sociology. 1940 46(2): 179-188. Proslavery Abstract Search.

            Database Online. JSTOR; accessed July 20, 2005.

 

This article shows two main themes in the defense of slavery. First,

white people needed to feel a sense of control over black people. Second, many favored slavery because they feared the future of white society in the wake of emancipation. I would use this article to show that people favored slavery in order to keep their sense of community and control. This work is available through JSTOR using the above search criteria.

 

3. Donald, David. “The Proslavery Argument Reconsidered.” The Journal of

Southern History. 1971 37(1): 3-18. Proslavery Abstract Search. Database Online. JSTOR; accessed July 20, 2005.

 

This article examines some of the peculiar arguments made in the support of slavery. One such argument was that God approved of slavery and Biblical references were used to support it. Another one is how a black person’s skull is different from a white person, arguing that they are a totally different species. I would use this article to expose some of the extreme arguments used to support slavery. This work is available through JSTOR using the above search criteria.

 

            4. Faust, Drew Gilpin. “A Southern Stewardship: The Intellectual and Proslavery

Argument.” American Quarterly. 1979 31(1): 63-80. Proslavery Abstract Search. Database Online. JSTOR; accessed July 20, 2005.

 

In this article Faust discusses some of the arguments in favor of slavery and their sources. Many individuals who were in favor of slavery were merely trying to justify their feelings in order to not feel guilty. She tells how most writers of proslavery texts were not large slave holders, but college professors, ministers, writers, and journalists.  I would use this article to reveal some the more intellectual arguments in favor of slavery. This work is available through JSTOR using the above search criteria.

 

            5. Faust, Drew Gilpin. The Ideology of Slavery: Proslavery Thought in the

                        Antebellum South, 1830-1860. Baton Rouge and London: Louisiana State

University Press, 1981.

                       

This book contains the writings of several proslavery writers from the Antebellum South. One of the selections from this book is by George Fitzhugh, one of the more extreme idealists of this time. He argues that slavery is necessary for the survival of not only the south, the north, and will “save Europe from universal famine.” I would use this book to show how extreme some of the arguments in favor of slavery were. This book is available through the UGA library or through GIL Express.

 

6. Finkelman, Paul. Defending Slavery: Proslavery Thought in the Old South, A

                        Brief History with Documents. Boston and New York: Bedford/St.

                        Martin’s, 2003.

 

The intention of the author is to help Americans come to terms with a very unpopular subject. It shows the defenses of slavery starting at the American Revolution going all the way to the end of the Civil War. It covers arguments made by many popular, high ranking officials in our government. I would use this book to do several things. First, to show that there were people in favor of slavery in the north as well as in the south. Second, I would use it to show that the Constitution supported it and was perpetuated by some of our leaders. This book is available through the UGA library or through GIL Express.

 

7. Foster, Gaines M. “Guilt Over Slavery: A Historiographical Analysis.” The

Journal of Southern History. 1990 56(4): 665-694. Proslavery Abstract Search. Database Online. JSTOR; accessed July 20, 2005.

 

In this particular article the author focuses on the historical side of the proslavery argument. It shows how some white people felt guilty about owning slaves, but felt the need to justify their feelings to ease their guilt. I would use this article to show a different side of the proslavery argument. I would use it to show that some arguments were most likely rooted in guilt rather than ideology. This work is available through JSTOR using the above search criteria.

 

8. Greenberg, Kenneth S. “Revolutionary Ideology and the Proslavery Argument:

                        The Abolition of Slavery in Antebellum South Carolina.” The Journal of

Southern History. 1976 42(3): 365-384. Proslavery Abstract Search. Database Online. JSTOR; accessed July 20, 2005.

 

This article shows that the ideas fought for in the Revolutionary War were contrary to the ideals of slavery. This caused many white southerners to feel anxious about defending their positions on slavery. They rationalized these feelings by saying that Revolutionary ideals applied to white people and not inferior black people. I would use this article to show that once again some white people felt that they were superior beings and that black people had no other purpose, but to be enslaved. This work is available through JSTOR using the above search criteria.

 

9. Morrow, Ralph E. “The Proslavery Argument Revisited.” The Mississippi

                        ValleyHistorical Review. 1961 48(1): 79-94. Proslavery Abstract Search.

            Database Online. JSTOR; accessed July 20, 2005.

 

The purpose of this article is to show that the proslavery argument was not just a rhetorical response to the abolitionist movement coming from the north. It shows how some southerners genuinely believed in slavery. They believed that it was necessary to the survival of not only the economy in the south, but the entire country as well. I would use this article to show that some arguments in favor of slavery were not only well organized, but strongly believed in. This work is available through JSTOR using the above search criteria.

 

Primary Sources:

           

10. Flanders, Benjamin F. “Benjamin F. Flanders to Abraham Lincoln, Saturday,    

January 16,  1864 (Political affairs in Louisiana).” Available from: http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/mal:@field(DOCID+@lit(d2952400). Internet; accessed July 25, 2005.                                  

This letter came at a time when Lincoln was trying to get loyal state governments in the south. Flanders supports the president and is asking for his support. This is relevant because it portrays the level of disagreement in the south over slavery. It shows how it was difficult to get everyone on board with the free states. This source is available through the Library of Congress or the above website.

11. Phillips, Willard. “Willard Phillips to Abraham Lincoln, Sunday, August 03,

 1862 (Slavery).” Available from: http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/mal:@field(DOCID+@lit(d1743800)). Internet; accessed June 25, 2005.

 

This particular letter is from someone who is in favor of freeing the slaves. He is giving his support to President Lincoln for the Emancipation Proclamation. It is relevant to this report because it discusses some of the views in favor of slavery. It talks about how slave owners believed that blacks were inferior creatures and not able to care for themselves. This source is available through the Library of Congress or the above website.

 

12. Rollins, James S. “James S. Rollins to Abraham Lincoln, Friday, June 12,

                        1863 (Political affairs in Missouri).” Available from:

                        http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query. Internet; accessed June 25, 2005.

This letter came at a time when a divide between proslavery and antislavery still existed. It is useful because it shows how there was a concern for unity and a need for support from the president. It is relevant because the author discusses how men feared the future of their personal property rights. It goes back to the issue of states rights. This source is available through the Library of Congress or the above website.