re: Worst Historical Disaster — Civil War or Second Great Awakening?

quote:

---

Wouldn’t we still have slavery though?

---

No

quote:

---

Wouldn’t we still have slavery though?

---

Of course not - on its own, slavery would have died as an institution no later than the 1880s or, perhaps, the 1890s. It was already becoming increasingly unfeasible, economically. Although the process was agonizingly slow, Southerners were losing their stomach for the obvious and undeniable (and horrific) abuse going on, particularly on larger holdings in the Cotton Belt.

Once cotton production was more mechanized, slavery simply wouldn't have been something affordable. Slaves had to be housed, clothed and fed from birth until working age, which was typically 12 to 14 and full production wouldn't have been expected until around 20. Middle aged slaves typically had fairly drastic decreases in production and had to, likewise, be housed, clothed and fed until death.

So, in addition to being an abject moral depravity, it would have become an unprofitable and unsustainable practice within 20 to 40 years after the Civil War anyway.

quote:

---

Wouldn’t we still have slavery though?

---

No