ShmoopTube

Where Monty Python meets your 10th grade teacher.

Search Thousands of Shmoop Videos

Pro-Slavery Movement 398 Views


Share It!


Description:

Pro-slavery? Yeah, that happened.

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:10

Well, hullo there. So you want to hear all about the Pro-Slavery Movement, eh?

00:15

No, no… down here!

00:17

I’d let him tell it, but his version would probably be a little biased.

00:21

This guy feeds me and provides me shelter, so I love him and all, but to be honest…

00:25

he’s kind of a racist. He owns twenty or so slaves.

00:28

That’s right – he owns people.

00:31

I’m not even really okay with him owning me.

00:34

Anyway, he’s not alone.

00:36

Slave labor is the backbone of the South’s economy.

00:39

Even if that backbone is constantly sore and in need of a good, solid tweak at a chiropractor’s office.

00:45

But the nation’s produce has to be farmed by someone…

00:48

…and this dude certainly isn’t going to get his hands dirty.

00:53

Of course, he can’t pay his slaves a percentage of the profits.

00:57

First of all, because… they wouldn’t be “slaves” anymore.

01:00

And second, because…

01:01

why cut into your profit margin if you don’t have to?

01:04

These guys have to keep working for you one way or another…

01:07

…and it sure is nice to be able to buy fancy dresses for the missus and order

01:11

the heck out of stuff from Amazon.com.

01:14

So… how does he sleep at night?

01:17

Other than… loudly?

01:20

Well, for one thing, he justifies his actions by relying on the word of the Bible.

01:25

Like where it gives examples of slavery and teaches that slaves should respect their masters.

01:31

Ironic, really, as the Bible is the same source abolitionists try to quote against slave-owners.

01:36

Everyone’s got their own interpretation, I guess.

01:39

Okay, so the Bible might have been written before the invention of toilet paper, but…

01:43

…is the world really that different today than it was back then?

01:47

Despite how much their situation sucks…

01:50

…slave owners argue that slaves do have it a lot better here in the South

01:54

than they would back in Africa.

01:56

At least they are given homes and meals.

01:59

But to hear these plantation owners talk, it’s almost as if they feel they’re doing

02:03

black men and women a favor.

02:06

It’s probably not my place to talk, as I’m just a dog, but…

02:10

…these slaves probably wish their masters would just take their “favor” and put

02:15

it where the sun don’t shine. If you know what I mean.

02:18

It looked like things might be taking a turn

02:20

for the better for these folks, what with that whole Dred Scott case…

02:24

…but we just got word that he lost.

02:27

Turns out that suing for your freedom, as Dred Scott tried to do…

02:30

doesn’t really work.

02:32

Who knows?

02:33

Maybe they’ll be stuck working for the man from here to eternity.

02:37

All I know is that, unless I suddenly sprout opposable thumbs…

02:41

I’m not going anywhere.

02:43

At least I have this bone.

Up Next

Why Does the Constitution Still Work for Us?
5723 Views

Ever heard of a "living document"? They eat and breathe just like the rest of us! They even walk around on their own two legs. Okay, fine—maybe t...

Related Videos

The Puritans and the Division of Church and State
1280 Views

If the Puritans had gotten their way, religion would play a much larger role in lawmaking these days. Want to know more? Watch the video for all th...

Shays' Rebellion
6477 Views

What happened between the creation of the Articles of Confederation and the ratification of the current U.S. Constitution? This video analyzes the...

There's More Than One Way to Crack a Modernist Egg
539 Views

The Modernists thought the world had a lot of problems, and they were intent on fixing them—or at least talking about fixing them. Unfortunately,...

Federalism
2533 Views

This video explains Federalism and the quest for a fair balance between state and national power. It covers the progression and compromises of Fede...