A Nation Divided, c1845–1877 – Attempts to maintain the Union, c1845–1854:…

The idea

Southern reactions to Northern abolitionism transformed from apologetic defences of slavery as a 'necessary evil' to aggressive assertions of it as a 'positive good'. Political leaders like Jefferson Davis fiercely defended states' rights and the constitutional protection of slave property, arguing that Northern interference threatened Southern economic survival and social order. This political stance was heavily supported by Southern popular literature and the press, which published pro-slavery treatises and novels. Writers like George Fitzhugh used the press to contrast the paternalistic care supposedly provided to enslaved people with the harsh conditions of Northern 'wage slaves', thereby unifying white Southern society against perceived Northern aggression and abolitionist literature.

What earns the marks

• Analyse the shift in Southern rhetoric from defending slavery as a 'necessary evil' to promoting it as a 'positive good' in response to abolitionism.
• Evaluate the role of political leaders like Jefferson Davis in articulating the constitutional and states' rights arguments to protect the institution of slavery.
• Assess how Southern popular literature and the press actively countered Northern abolitionist texts by publishing pro-slavery novels and essays.
• Explain the use of the 'wage slave' argument by Southern writers to critique Northern industrial capitalism and defend the paternalistic ideology of slavery.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Treating the Southern reaction as purely defensive.

  Put it right by noting the aggressive ideological shift towards promoting slavery as a beneficial institution for all.

• Assuming Jefferson Davis only became relevant during the Civil War.

  Put it right: He was a crucial political voice defending Southern interests and slavery in the Senate during the 1850s.

• Overlooking the role of the Southern press; failing to mention how local newspapers and literature actively censored abolitionist materials while disseminating pro-slavery propaganda.

Exam tips

• Reference the concept of 'paternalism' when discussing how Southern literature and press attempted to justify slavery morally against abolitionist attacks.
• Use Jefferson Davis as a prime example of how Southern politicians utilised constitutional arguments, specifically the Fifth Amendment regarding property, to counter abolitionism.
• Contrast Southern pro-slavery literature, such as 'Anti-Tom' novels, directly with Northern abolitionist works to demonstrate the cultural war preceding the military conflict.