Examkin

Question

Difficulty: EasySouthern Economy, Society, and the Defense of Slavery

Governor George McDuffie of South Carolina, message to the state legislature, 1835:

"No community has ever existed without some class of people to perform its menial offices. In the very nature of things, there must be a class of persons to perform the duties of drudgery, to make the transaction of the higher duties of life possible... [Slavery] is the cornerstone of our republican edifice."

Which of the following ideological arguments in the antebellum South most directly aligns with McDuffie's statement in the excerpt?

  1. The defense of slavery as a positive good that stabilized society and supported democratic institutionsAnswer
  2. B
    The belief that enslaved laborers were temporary workers who could transition to free labor through contracts of indenture
  3. C
    The expectation that the Market Revolution would rapidly industrialize the South and phase out agricultural labor
  4. D
    The proposal that popular sovereignty gave the federal executive branch direct authority to determine the slave status of new territories

Answer

The defense of slavery as a positive good that stabilized society and supported democratic institutions
The correct answer is correct because Governor McDuffie's reference to slavery as the 'cornerstone of our republican edifice' and his assertion that a menial class is necessary for higher society to function are classic arguments of the 'positive good' defense of slavery. Proponents of this view argued that slavery stabilized society, prevented class warfare, and allowed white citizens to participate fully in democratic self-government.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus
Governor George McDuffie defends slavery by asserting that every society requires a laboring class to perform menial tasks so that others can focus on higher civic duties, calling slavery the 'cornerstone of our republican edifice.'
Understanding the source's main argument is necessary to match it to a historical perspective.
2
Evaluate the historical context of the 1830s South
During the 1830s, Southern defenders shifted from describing slavery as a 'necessary evil' to defending it as a 'positive good' that benefited both enslaved people and Southern society.
Placing the document in its correct chronological and ideological context helps identify the target perspective.
3
Select the option that matches the author's argument
The option asserting that slavery was defended as a positive good that stabilized society and supported democratic institutions directly matches McDuffie's claim that slavery is the cornerstone of the republic.
Matching the analyzed meaning to the correct option provides the final answer.

Key Concept

The ideological defense of slavery as a positive good in the antebellum South.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Rate this question

Topics

Southern Economy, Society, and the Defense of Slavery

More questions from this topic