Just read - no comments needed

[JMadonna]

FWIW
Since time immemorial slaves have always been part of the hierarchy of society no matter which government they served under. Western culture began to change in the mid 1400's when Gutenberg began to print bibles.This led to the Protestant Reformation movement in 1517 with Martin Luther and his insistence that all Christians be able to read the Bible in their own language.

The ability to read the word of God for themselves changed Western Culture and the world. The concept of 'all equal under the eyes of God' planted the seeds for Western Democracy.

In America this led to The Second Great Awakening. A Protestant religious revival during the early 19th century in the United States. The movement began around 1790, gained momentum by 1800 and, after 1820, membership rose rapidly among Baptist and Methodist congregations whose preachers led the movement preaching abolitionism. (note - this movement occurred after the founding fathers had passed on)

Preachers began sermonizing that slavery was a moral sin, and set about arousing public attention to the subject. Repentance from slavery was required of souls, once enlightened of the subject, while continued support of the system incurred "the greatest guilt" upon them.

Slave owners countered that if it was a sin why didn't Christ preach against it? But you know the end of the story.

Those who take a high moral stance and equate America's slavery experience to Hitler's genocide of the Jews simply don't know how modern their moral stance is. You weren't born with high morals they were taught to you and learned from your environment. Anti-Slavery is a very recent standard.

Much of what you read about the cruelty and mistreatment of slaves was left over propaganda written for the war effort. The majority of slaves were expensive so they were fed and treated well. Many of whom remained loyal and volunteered for the South. Every Simon Legree knew that a mistreated slave did not produce work for his master.