Slavery and the North: what you didn’t learn in history class | Christopher Lehman | TEDxStCloud

Summary

The script explores the deep, often overlooked connections between free states and slavery in American history. It challenges the simplified narrative taught in schools, which pits the North as innocent and the South as guilty. The speaker emphasizes how Northern states profited from slavery through investments, businesses, and even tourism, despite not directly owning slaves. The history of slavery in America is shown as a shared burden, affecting both the North and South, with its legacy continuing to impact issues like inequality and police brutality today. Acknowledging this painful history is presented as crucial for healing and understanding America's full identity.

Takeaways

• 😀 Slavery's legacy is not confined to the South, but has deep roots in the North as well, with both regions benefiting from the institution of slavery.
• 😀 The simplified narrative taught in American schools often separates the North and South as opposites, but this overlooks the complex economic connections between them.
• 😀 Northern states were not innocent in the history of slavery; they profited from it in various ways, such as through land sales, businesses, and tourism.
• 😀 Even free states like Minnesota benefited from slavery, with Southern enslavers spending money in Northern cities and states, helping to grow their economies.
• 😀 The system of slavery extended beyond owning slaves; it included the economic benefits from goods produced by enslaved labor and the buying and selling of enslaved people.
• 😀 The free North was complicit in slavery through tourism, with wealthy Southerners visiting Northern cities and bringing enslaved people with them temporarily, which was tolerated by Northerners.
• 😀 Northern cities like Saint Cloud and Saint Paul grew because of the money spent by enslavers from the South, highlighting the interconnectedness of the Northern and Southern economies.
• 😀 After the Civil War, the wealth and land purchased through the profits from slavery continued to impact the development of the American West, with former slaveowners and their families investing there.
• 😀 The history of slavery is not just a Southern issue; it is an American issue, affecting both the North and South in lasting ways that continue to shape contemporary society.
• 😀 Acknowledging the full history of slavery, including how it benefited the North, is crucial for addressing ongoing issues like police brutality and inequality in modern America.

Q & A

What is the central argument of the speaker in the transcript?

The speaker argues that both the North and the South in America were economically interconnected through slavery, challenging the oversimplified view that the North was 'free' and the South was solely responsible for slavery.

Why does the speaker criticize the way slavery is taught in American schools?

The speaker criticizes the simplistic narrative taught in schools, which separates the North and South as opposites, with the North being free and the South being slave-holding. This oversimplification ignores the complex ways in which the North benefited from slavery.

What role did Northern states play in the continuation of slavery in America?

Northern states, while not having slavery themselves, profited from slavery through business dealings, tourism, land sales, and the circulation of money from slave states. This made the entire country complicit in the economic system that upheld slavery.

How did enslavers from the South contribute to the development of Northern cities?

Enslavers from the South spent money in Northern cities, such as St. Cloud and St. Paul, which helped these cities grow economically. Without the influx of money from the South, these cities would not have developed as they did in the early 1800s.

How did free states benefit from slavery indirectly?

Free states benefited from slavery through various channels, such as land sales to enslavers, tourism from Southern visitors who brought enslaved people with them, and businesses that relied on the financial contributions of the South.

What was the loophole used by Northern states to benefit from slavery while maintaining their 'free' status?

Northern states allowed enslaved people to accompany Southern visitors for short stays, often overlooking the presence of enslaved individuals during their temporary visits. This loophole allowed the North to profit from slavery without directly practicing it.

What does the speaker mean when they say that 'free states and slave states are not opposites'?

The speaker emphasizes that both free and slave states were part of the same economic system, where slavery was a driving force for growth and prosperity in both regions. This contradicts the view that the North was 'pure' and separate from the institution of slavery.

What is the significance of acknowledging the complicity of free states in the system of slavery?

Acknowledging the complicity of free states is essential for understanding the full scope of America's history with slavery and its ongoing impact on contemporary issues like inequality and police brutality. This recognition is necessary for healing and addressing systemic problems.

How does the speaker connect the legacy of slavery to modern social issues?

The speaker connects the legacy of slavery to modern issues like inequality and police brutality by showing that the historical economic exploitation of enslaved people created deep social divides and injustices that continue to affect society today.

What is the speaker's call to action regarding the history of slavery in both North and South?

The speaker calls for a more honest reckoning with America's history, urging people to learn about how slavery shaped both the North and South. This is necessary to honor the legacy of enslaved people and help heal the wounds created by this history.