Topic Three (1.3): The Institution of Slavery
Introduction
Slavery was known as the Peculiar Institution. Its history in America begins with the earliest European settlements and ended with the Civil War. The industrialisation of the North and the expansion of demand for cotton in the South meant it became a regional issue, as the southern economy grew increasingly reliant on cheap labour. Political, religious, economic and social arguments in favour of the continuation of slavery emerged. These arguments also revealed the growing separation in the needs and priorities of the northern industrial interests versus the southern planting society, all of which culminated in the Civil War.
Read and Make Notes
Read pages 5 to 6 in your textbook and carefully make notes on the topic.
Tasks
Answer the following questions using the links provided:
- Why were slaves imported?
- How did the use of slaves differ between the North and the South?
- What arguments were put forward to defend slavery in the South?
READ – The Southern Argument for Slavery (US History) Links to an external site.
Watch
Watch the following video and add to your notes.
WATCH – Slavery: Crash Course US History (YouTube) Links to an external site.
Stretch Activity
Read the following and suggest answers to the questions at the end.
READ – The Slave Economy (The Khan Academy) Links to an external site.
Terminology
Make sure you understand all the key terms covered in this topic. You may like to make flashcards of key terms now, to help you with revision later on.