Hey Q9!!! Calling Q9!.....

[redhen]

Quote:
Cotton would have remained a major export, as would sugar and tobacco, not to mention food products. With the end of slavery, it would be difficult to say whether the plantations would have become more or less effecient. Odds are good, however, that with an increasing labor force, industry would have become a big deal in some areas, especially the more developed cities like Richmond and Atlanta. The South also has an abundance of coal, and I'm pretty sure iron and other resources.

Q, from what i understand, the end of slavery was the reason that most, if not all, cotton plantations went under at that time....
They NEEDED the free labor to keep ahead.. and thats one of the reason they fought so hard to not lose slavery.
No? Maybe i'm wrong though...

 

[Dunkopf]

They had the cotton gin but it still had to be picked. John Deere created the first horse drawn cotton picker in 1917 I believe. I only know this because someone was debating with me that slavery would have died a natural death because of mechanization. So I looked it up. In fact I believe slavery would have probably lasted at least another 20-30 years. They could have worked out a lot of the other issues such as tariffs. The wealthy landowners controlled politics then just as the wealthy control them now. Their wealth would be diminished without slavery. So they convinced the good southern people that sending Johnny off to war was in their best interest. Sounds kind of familiar doesn't it?

I think Lincoln had a stronger argument. The unity of the nation was really the most important issue. JMO and I am not a history buff. If I had the time I would be though.

All you really have to do is look at current events to see history. It always repeats itself. Same old cycle just different people and better weapons.

 

[redhen]

Was Cassius Clay a real person during that time? He was supposed to a BIG anit-slavery supporter...
*i know i'm annoying with my silly questions*

 

[Boyd]

Quote:

Thank you

I agree with many posts, but this is the most coherent and well written posts by far! Spook, its spooky how your insight hit home tonight.

 

[Laurajean]

Quote:
I haven't read through this thread yet but in case no one has brought it up......
Murray Rothbard did probably (I can't say for sure) the best study on colonial America in his "Conceived in Liberty" series....vols 1-4. A huge undertaking to read (or listen to like I do) much less research and create.

It really gets down to the details and in the last volume dispells some of the assumptions that everyone was of a single mind in the secession from Britain....far from it.

Anyway, it's good stuff and it's free on pdf or in mp3 format ay the Mises Institute.

http://www.amazon.com/Conceived-Liberty-Set-Murray-Rothbard/dp/0945466269
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conceived_in_Liberty
http://explorersfoundation.org/glyphery/480.html


The audio can also be found for free at the itunes store. Do a search for Murray Rothbard.

Good stuff, thanks! I think I'll search for the audio version.

 

[Spookwriter]

Quote:
Yes, Cassius Clay was very much a real person in this time. (1810-1903).

Although his father owned a plantation, and slaves, Cassius Clay was against
slavery. Southern by birth. (Kentucky)

No honest question is silly.

 

[Dunkopf]

I thought Cassius Clay was a fighter.

 

[Spookwriter]

Cassius Clay was a fighter you silly Dunkopf.

He fought against slavery...

(Cassius Clay the boxer was named for his father, Cassius Clay,
who was named for the politician, Cassius Clay.)

 

[chickened]

Slavery was coming to an end at the 1850's you could no longer import slaves. Except from Haiti and I may be wrong about that.

The Civil War was about preserving a way of life or it was sold on that idea. The South never really had a chance mainly because all the industries were in the North.

 

[Dunkopf]

Quote:
I was under the impression that they bred slaves. Once you have a breeding pair you don't need to import them. They were considered livestock after all. It must of just killed people that had a soul to see other humans treated that way by some of the slave owners. I know there were a lot of humane slave owners too. Of course how humane can you be to own a human being? I won't fall for the culture or way of life thing when it comes to that.

The south was silly. They needed the North and the North needed them. That's why ole Abe went to war. Naturally there were a lot of money interest involved. That's what war is about after all, killing our young so others can get rich while the whole country goes into debt to make a few people wealthy.

The Civil War was unnecessary. They could have worked out their differences.