Pro-Slavery Forces

Pro-Slavery Forces were individuals and groups that supported the continuation of slavery in the United States and other countries. They believed slavery was necessary for economic prosperity, especially in the South where cotton and other crops depended on enslaved labor. These forces argued that slavery was a positive good for both enslaved people and society, often citing economic, social, or racial justifications. They opposed abolition efforts and fought to maintain the legal and social systems that upheld slavery, resulting in significant political, legal, and social conflicts during the 18th and 19th centuries, notably leading up to the American Civil War.