Archived Abstracts

Location

Room 215, Schewel Hall

Access Type

Open Access

Entry Number

59

Start Date

4-8-2020 4:00 PM

End Date

4-8-2020 4:15 PM

Department

History

Abstract

The mindset of antebellum-era plantation owners in the southern United States was complex to say the least. Slavery became an integral part of not only southern society, but also the global economy due to British demand for raw materials in order to fuel their industrial revolution. What is important to understand, though, about this business model is that it is almost entirely based in acquiring more property (land and slaves) which are then managed together in order to produce profitable goods. It is the same concept shared by the owner of a factory who acquires more space for operations and more machines which do the work for him or her with no opposition as long as they properly maintain them. The major difference, however, is that the machinery owned by slaveholders were human beings instead of a steam-powered assembly of nuts and bolts. The human quality of the antebellum South’s response to the Industrial Revolution not only created a moral dilemma, but also proved slavery to be an inefficient economic institution. Inefficient in the sense that you can only get a certain amount of production value out of a human whereas machinery can be improved and built upon. Any attempt to grow a slave labor business requires more space and people; it requires you to also care and provide for these people as well. With this comes a sense of responsibility for them and some understanding of a paternalistic bond.

Faculty Mentor(s)

Dr. Adam Dean

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Apr 8th, 4:00 PM Apr 8th, 4:15 PM

Personifying Machinery

Room 215, Schewel Hall

The mindset of antebellum-era plantation owners in the southern United States was complex to say the least. Slavery became an integral part of not only southern society, but also the global economy due to British demand for raw materials in order to fuel their industrial revolution. What is important to understand, though, about this business model is that it is almost entirely based in acquiring more property (land and slaves) which are then managed together in order to produce profitable goods. It is the same concept shared by the owner of a factory who acquires more space for operations and more machines which do the work for him or her with no opposition as long as they properly maintain them. The major difference, however, is that the machinery owned by slaveholders were human beings instead of a steam-powered assembly of nuts and bolts. The human quality of the antebellum South’s response to the Industrial Revolution not only created a moral dilemma, but also proved slavery to be an inefficient economic institution. Inefficient in the sense that you can only get a certain amount of production value out of a human whereas machinery can be improved and built upon. Any attempt to grow a slave labor business requires more space and people; it requires you to also care and provide for these people as well. With this comes a sense of responsibility for them and some understanding of a paternalistic bond.