The Counterrevolution Of Slavery: Politics And Ideology In Antebellum South Carolina Politics And Ideology In Antebellum South Carolina

In this comprehensive analysis of politics and ideology in antebellum South Carolina, Manisha Sinha offers a provocative new look at the roots of southern separatism and the causes of the Civil War. Challenging works that portray secession as a fight for white liberty, she argues instead that it was a conservative, antidemocratic movement to protect and perpetuate racial slavery. Sinha discusses some of the major sectional crises of the antebellum era--including nullification, the conflict over the expansion of slavery into western territories, and secession--and offers an important reevaluation of the movement to reopen the African slave trade in the 1850s. In the process she reveals the central role played by South Carolina planter politicians in developing proslavery ideology and the use of states' rights and constitutional theory for the defense of slavery. Sinha's work underscores the necessity of integrating the history of slavery with the traditional narrative of southern politics. Only by taking into account the political importance of slavery, she insists, can we arrive at a complete understanding of southern politics and the enormity of the issues confronting both northerners and southerners on the eve of the Civil War. In this comprehensive analysis of politics and ideology in antebellum South Carolina, Manisha Sinha offers a provocative new look at the roots of southern separatism and the causes of the Civil War. Challenging works that portray secession as a fight for white liberty, she argues instead that it was a conservative, antidemocratic movement to protect and perpetuate racial slavery.Sinha discusses some of the major sectional crises of the antebellum era -- including nullification, the conflict over the expansion of slavery into western territories, and secession -- and offers an important reevaluation of the movement to reopen the African slave trade in the 1850s. In the process she reveals the central role played by South Carolina planter politicians in developing proslavery ideology and the use of states' rights and constitutional theory for the defense of slavery.Sinha's work underscores the necessity of integrating the history of slavery with the traditional narrative of southern politics. Only by taking into account the political importance of slavery, she insists, can we arrive at a complete understanding of southern politics and the enormity of the issues confronting both northerners and southerners on the eve of the Civil War. Acknowledgments......Page 12 Introduction......Page 18 Notes......Page 277 1. The Genesis of the Political Ideology of Slavery......Page 26 Notes......Page 280 2. Nullification......Page 50 Notes......Page 288 3. The Discourse of Southern Nationalism......Page 80 Notes......Page 296 4. South Carolina and the First Secession Crisis......Page 112 Notes......Page 307 5. The Carolinian Movement to Reopen the African Slave Trade......Page 142 Notes......Page 315 6. Judicial Nullification......Page 170 Notes......Page 320 7. The Coming of Secession......Page 204 Notes......Page 324 8. Secession......Page 238 Notes......Page 331 Epilogue: The Counterrevolution of Slavery......Page 272 Notes......Page 339 Abbreviations......Page 276 Bibliography of Primary Sources......Page 340 Index......Page 360 Acknowledgments 12 Introduction 18 Notes 277 1. The Genesis of the Political Ideology of Slavery 26 Notes 280 2. Nullification 50 Notes 288 3. The Discourse of Southern Nationalism 80 Notes 296 4. South Carolina and the First Secession Crisis 112 Notes 307 5. The Carolinian Movement to Reopen the African Slave Trade 142 Notes 315 6. Judicial Nullification 170 Notes 320 7. The Coming of Secession 204 Notes 324 8. Secession 238 Notes 331 Epilogue: The Counterrevolution of Slavery 272 Notes 339 Notes 276 Abbreviations 276 Bibliography of Primary Sources 340 Index 360 Introduction: The Problem Of South Carolina Revisited -- The Genesis Of The Political Ideology Of Slavery -- Nullification -- The Discourse Of Southern Nationalism -- South Carolina And The First Secession Crisis -- The Carolinian Movement To Reopen The African Slave Trade -- Judicial Nullification -- The Coming Of Secession -- Secession -- Epilogue: The Counterrevolution Of Slavery. Manisha Sinha. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [323]-342) And Index. By the dawn of the antebellum era, the southern half of the United States had given rise to a distinct slave society.