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
Rights Statement
The right to download or print any portion of this material is granted by the copyright owner only for personal or educational use. The author/creator retains all proprietary rights, including copyright ownership. Any editing, other reproduction or other use of this material by any means requires the express written permission of the copyright owner. Except as provided above, or for any other use that is allowed by fair use (Title 17, §107 U.S.C.), you may not reproduce, republish, post, transmit or distribute any material from this web site in any physical or digital form without the permission of the copyright owner of the material.
Included in
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.