Before the Civil war even began, there was debate over slavery. While many people in the South have been strong advocates of slavery, others in the North were often against it. Many Americans have been in choose of the organization and determined it not only justified, however essential. While reading many of the pro-slavery documents of the pre-Civil War era, there are many myths and stereotypes related to African Americans and the foundation of slavery.
Seasoned-Slavery files advise the perspectives and mind of the general public. Many of those myths are assumptions created about African Americans, all of which might be absurd and untrue. Some are fundamental stereotypes that had been echoed at some point of this era. This was the idea that blacks are lazy, easy-minded, and full of mischief. Whites throughout the South believed that blacks were incapable of looking after themselves.
Fitzhugh mentioned that the ‘Negro is but a grown up toddler.’ Due to this supposed disability, Whites felt that it was their obligation to insure the survival of the Black race via slavery. Men justify their need for slavery by saying that slavery has existed since the first records of humankind. They also used science to back it up. Dr. Cartwright attempted to call a slave’s need for freedom a disorder or disease.
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The first he listed as Drapetomania, “the disease causing Negroes to run away.” Dr. Cartwright assured readers that the cure was simple. His advice was so persuading that people were convinced that even slaves on the borderline of a free state could be cured. The second disease he listed was Dysesthesia Aethiopica, a listlessness and recklessness that only affected free black or slaves who attempted to live like them.
He didn’t offer a cure, but he did mention his ideas by describing blacks as inclined and essentially sure to fall into mischief and sin if they didn’t have the guidance of whites. The abolitionist writers envisioned a civilized society where all men are equal regardless of their race. Pro-slavery writers envisioned a society that was run on oppression and free labor.
While abolitionists wrote about and described the horrors of slavery, Fitzhugh described slaves as living in a carefree and joyful world, with no need to worry about everyday problems. Hammond described how every society should have a low, hard-working class to perform basic responsibilities. He believed that blacks should take this role in society because they were not as smart as white people but they could work just as hard. He even argued that it was an honor for blacks to be slaves.
The arguments of these men had towards blacks reflected their prejudice against African Americans.Dr. Cartwright furthered the idea of blacks being like animals. He also stated that their desire for freedom was a mental problem. Many writers compared them to dirt. Overall, they painted black people in a bad picture and slavery in a bright one.
