Antebellum South (BCOF)

I was very pleased with the amount of detail that the book offered on the South's attempt to justify or rationalize the peculiar institution. The Southern way of life is defended with great passion and skilled debate, but in the end they were on the the wrong side of "the higher law" and moral progress. I find the whole debate very intriguing as various factions and interests attempt to have their concerns heard in a republican form of government. Political power and compromise could not keep this divided house functioning, as it became necessary to sort out this moral injustice and inconsistency with our stated national ideals. I have to admit I have always felt sympathetic to the courage and valor of the Southerner's defense of their homeland. But ultimately their support of a system of slavery that would attempt to justify its existence by contrasting the exploitation of wage laborers in the capitalist North is too much for me. It appears many chose economic self-interest and racial fear over doing the right thing. I'm sure that such works as The Impending Crisis got them fired up.