No, Slaves Didn't Build This Country

Fair analogy--but of course the analogy presumes that kidnapping is illegal--slavery OTOH, at the time, was not.

 

The United States of America enslaved them too. The South didn't start slavery with the Civil War. And, again, African slavery did not resemble US slavery. Stop trying to polish this particular turd.

 

How slavery became America’s first big business

 

No, Slaves Didn't Build This Country

(but fwiw, I certainly hope you're right, and the foolishness fades away. The entire discussion is counterproductive, but you can't let the one stand with out pushing back).

 

Thanks for clarifying that for us. Damn!

 

Wait...I see it now...

 

So what OP is saying is that slaves didn't build this country but slavery did

 

Even if someone didn't own an enslaved human they often rented them. And you can't forget births, especially after 1808. Childbearing enslaved women became as valuable or more valuable than any, especially because so many of the owners wanted to rape them constantly. In terms of economic impact and how significant apart they were the economy, even in the North, as New York City was a finance capital, read Edward Baptist's "The Half has never been told". David Blight has an amazing statistic. As of 1860, the aggregate value of enslaved humans what's by far the greatest asset in the country, far more valuable even than all of the land and industry, etc.

We don't like to admit it, but all of us, even now, profited from an economy built on enslaved humans. It was one of the major economic advantages over the European powers, and also the reason why the island of Haiti was considered the most valuable asset in the French economy

 

so we still refuse to accept the fact that native american indians were slaughtered, slaves were not.

 

Curious...to whom are you responding to?

Secondly, bring your post back into the OP so I understand you.

 

Oh you've got me feeling my white guilt again.

 

NPR had an interesting piece on "The Lost Cause" with convincing documentation / records from the Confederacy today around noon.

The argument that the Civil War was based on "States Rights" is a complete misconception (one that I did give merit to)
Based on the documents, it's hardly even mentioned. All the language justifying sucssesion is based on slavery, economics and racial superiority. (If one trusts NPRs sources).

Also interesting and a surprise to me is that 35 - 40% of Southern males owned at least one slave at one time leading up to the war.
I assumed the % was much lower.

 

I’m wondering why someone would take the time to care that much about the phrase. The idea behind the saying isn’t literal, it’s that they were largely the brute labor for society, against their will and for generations.

 

this land was not built, but stolen from indians, i am a little tired of all only african-americans were ever oppressed. indians, chinnesse in the late 1800's, p[oor whites also. the idea that slaves were the only people treated bad is wrong.

 

I don’t know why I am responding to you. We annihilated the previous civilization. Most died from small pox and other diseases they had no experience with. Is your thought that our annihalation of the native population forgives us for enslaving another one?

 

DERP DERP

 

Say what?

 

What the heck are you talking about?

 

You left out the Irish and the Scottish dammit. Ever hear of the Potato Famine?
Damn English. Insufferable Basterds.