Question

How did whites in the south defend the institution of slavery?

Answer 1

White Southerners defended the institution of slavery on a several fronts.  They stated that it was necessary especially for the economy, They argued that slaves were the only ones who could do the needed work to grow tobacco (and later cotton). The Southerners also argued that there was no reason to cinsider that slavery was immoral.  They appealed to three sources to support this claim.  First, they looked to Biblical times.  They pointed out that there was slavery in the Old Testament and the New Testament and that Jesus never spoke against the practice.  Second, they looked at classical antiquity.  They claimed that the Greeks and the Romans counted on slaves  Finally, they looked to the time of the Founding Fathers.  They stated that the people who wrote the Constitution also had slaves.