Northern+Response+to+Slavery

JML: The majority of the northerners were too lax about the slavery problem and the abolitionists were too radical about it. The northern majority’s idea that stymieing slavery’s progression into new territory would be enough to end it was unrealistic. Preventing the expansion of slavery would not lead to the dissolution of the practice in places it was already happening in. The South would not eventually end slavery merely because the West would not practice it, the idea that it would has little basis. The concept was only a non-solution crafted to postpone serious decision making that might anger the South or damage the union. The mass of the northerners’ belief that slavery should not be immediately ended due to the fear that its end would infringe upon property rights and the concept of the superior white race was also wrong. The concerns about the union splitting were justified, but both the concept of slaves being property and of blacks being inferior went against the country’s ideals. The Declaration of Independence states that all men are born with the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and slavery goes directly against that by taking away all of those rights from blacks. The end of slavery may breach property rights, but the practice of slavery breaks human rights, so either way, rights are being broken so the bulk of the northerners should not have been so distraught by worries of violating rights. They were too concerned with practicalities and southern opposition to support any form of significant change. Some abolitionist ideas focused too much on emotion and not enough on being practical. Their goal was to spur moral urgency in the nation, to make the country realize that slavery was immoral, which is a fine goal but feelings are not enough to make changes. To have been truly successful, they would have needed to come up with solutions to end slavery that could actually garner support and be enacted. Numerous abolitionists placed too much faith in the idea that once people were enlightened on the injustices that they would then find a practical means to address them. Relying on others to make their beliefs practical was wrong because it made those abolitionists themselves seem weak. They promoted taking action to end slavery but not what action or how the action could be made possible and so those abolitionists’ means of ending slavery were flawed. The solutions they did propose, such as immediate emancipation or non-compensation for slaves to southerners, were too radical and unable to be supported by non-radicals so the abolitionists were also flawed in that manner as well. These abolitionists had problems because they relied on others to make their beliefs practical and because the solutions they did propose were impractical.

WGR-In his essay __The Northern Response to Slavery__, Martin Duberman identifies abolitionists as radicals that do not appeal to American population. Abolitionists did have radical ideas that should have been noted in the 19th century, but the American population was not willing to listen to the radical ideas because they were afraid of the outcomes of freeing slaves instantly. Due to Britain's failed belief in gradualism, which might have won over the American population, when it came to freeing slaves, American abolitionists aimed for an instantaneous approach to freeing slaves. Duberman asserts that northerners wanted slavery to end, but on the other hand did not want negros integrated into northern society as they were, this belief being detrimental to the abolitionist cause. Some abolitionists called for primary education for slaves before their release to help them not become like "red-neck" white farmers. However, these abolitionists were few and no side could compromise so slavery continued to grow. Another major problem for the abolitionists' cause was that they were seen to be corrupt and not "normal" men due to how they viewed themselves and others. Overall they were considered queer. Many other problems created setbacks for the abolitionists and they accomplished little no matter how noble and just their cause and arguments were.

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