When the Industrial Revolution took off in Northern England, the British realized they needed slaves a lot less - so they were the first to outlaw slavery. They felt they could bear the economic costs.
The US South's economy was built on slavery, they had a different opinion.
The US South's economy was built on slavery, they had a different opinion.
I'm the last person who will ever believe that the West "fought against slavery out of the goodness of their hearts".
If that were the case, they would have fought slavery in the 18th Century (before the Industrial Revolution), not in the 19th (after it).
If that were the case, they would have fought slavery in the 18th Century (before the Industrial Revolution), not in the 19th (after it).
In the US, the industrialized North (whose economy was not built on slavery) fought the South (which depended on slavery and was slow to adopt the Industrial Revolution).
Russia finally abandoned serfdom (which was close to slavery) as it industrialized. Not before then.
Russia finally abandoned serfdom (which was close to slavery) as it industrialized. Not before then.
If you are talking about people who had a principled opposition to slavery, long before it was convenient to do so, think about the Quakers, Mennonites, Amish etc.
One legacy of slavery in the West, was an entire theology/scholarship built on the "inferiority" of certain races.
One legacy of slavery in the West, was an entire theology/scholarship built on the "inferiority" of certain races.
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