In Frederick Douglass's "What to the slave is the fourth of July?" what does he say the effect of slavery has on white people in the north?
According to John C. Calhoun's 1837 speech before the Senate, what were slavery's chief benefits for blacks?
- print Print
- list Cite
Expert Answers

calendarEducator since 2011
write5,538 answers
starTop subjects are Literature, History, and Social Sciences
Calhoun's "Positive Good" speech before the Senate is sometimes seen as a turning point in the role of slavery in Southern politics. Since the Revolution, Southerners had generally argued that slavery was a necessary evil. Many had even publicly advocated gradual emancipation. But by the 1830s, the rise of the cotton economy placed slavery at the center of Southern society. Slavery was expanding, territorially and numerically. Additionally, the institution of slavery was coming under attack by abolitionists, who argued that it was an absolute evil that had to be destroyed. This provides some context for Calhoun's speech, especially for his claims about slavery.
Calhoun asserted that slavery was actually good for all people involved, including enslaved people themselves. In so doing, he argued that people of African descent were "distinguished" from whites, claiming that they were inferior. He further claimed that "the black race of Central Africa" had attained more moral and spiritual...
(The entire section contains 4 answers and 914 words.)
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial to unlock this answer and thousands more. Enjoy eNotes ad-free and cancel anytime.
Related Questions
- Why did John C. Calhoun claim slavery was a positive good?
- 2 Educator Answers
- What is the significance of John C. Calhoun?
- 2 Educator Answers
- What did John C. Calhoun mean when he said slavery was a "positive good"?
- 3 Educator Answers
- Was Calhoun's speech about the benefits of slavery effective?
- 2 Educator Answers
- What are some of the main points of "On the Slavery Question" by John C. Calhou?
- 2 Educator Answers

calendarEducator since 2014
write1,737 answers
starTop subjects are Literature, History, and Business

calendarEducator since 2016
write4,274 answers
starTop subjects are Literature, History, and Social Sciences

calendarEducator since 2009
write35,413 answers
starTop subjects are History, Literature, and Social Sciences