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Damon Daniels
Professor Corbally
13 September 2015
History 141
Slavery Justified by Prosperity
It is evident that the economic system of slavery in which humans are legally equated to
property has been around for many centuries. Europeans were not the first to be heavily involved
in the lawful trading of human beings. Marvin Perry expresses it as thus, Africans slavers
brought their captives, generally prisoners of war and kidnap victims, to coastal slave markets
where they were purchased by Europeans.1 Slavery was vastly profitable and encouraged
financial success for the Dutch, Spain, and Europeans civilizations. Utilizing African slaves
would make a major historical contribution overtime. As the author states The supply of
laborers from Africa was essential to the New Worlds successful economic development. 2
Without slaves the force of the West may not be as influential as it happens to be today. Vital
information from multiple primary sources highlights the concept that although the slave
trade was viciously inhumane and morally unjustifiable, it may be in correlation with the
economic prosperity of the New World. In general Africans are historically forgotten for their
insurmountable impact on modern society. Documents such as John Newtons Thoughts upon
the African Slave Trade, Malachy Postlethwayt Defense of Slavery, and John Wesleys Thoughts
Upon Slavery provide detailed excerpts which can be used as evidence to support this thesis.

1 Perry, Marvin. "The Rise of Modernity." In Sources of the Western Tradition, 25.
Ninth ed. Vol. 2. New York City, New York: Wadsworth, 2014.
2 Perry, Marvin. "The Rise of Modernity.", 26

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African slaves proved to be unique but faced treacherous conditions and still enormously
contributed to the economy of the New World.
From the beginning African slaves quickly demonstrated their importance; their
uniqueness simply set them apart from the natives of the New World. Their strenuous abilities
were practically apparent once put to work by their owners. Perry suggest, Black slaves were
imported to satisfy the demand. Not only were they plentiful and cheap to maintain, they were
also skilled in farming and mining and could handle tropical heat, insects, and disease3 A large
basis for affluence in the New World was the expansion of agriculture. Cultivation provided a
new haven for profitable opportunities. Slaves were enormously abundant in numbers and
inexpensive to sustain, simply based upon the perspective of Africans being perceived as
property. In John Newtons attack on slavery he declares: I have seen them sentenced to
unmerciful whippings, continued till the poor creatures have not had power to groan under their
misery, and hardly a sign of life has remained.4 Even in their course of defense, he mentions the
slaves as creatures. As if they were not human, completely removing them from the realm of
humanity. If a future abolitionist can perceive Africans as creatures it is easily believable for
supporters of slavery to see them as property. Clearly their property was highly valued because
of their productivity. Without their efficiency the economy would have profoundly suffered.
Furthermore it can be deduced that their production was highly noted, especially by those
whom supported the tradition of slavery. In Slavery Defended by Malachy Postlethwayt he
exclaims, It may be worth consideration that while our plantation depend only on planting by
3 Perry, Marvin. "Political and Economic Transformation." In Western Civilization A
Brief
History, 226. 11th ed. Vol. Two. New York City,
New York: Wadsworth, 2016
4 Perry, Marvin. "The Rise of Modernity." In Sources of the Western Tradition, 29.
Ninth ed. Vol. 2. New York City, New York: Wadsworth, 2014.

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negro servants.5 Economically, agriculture was an essential fragment to the systematic fortune
achieved in the New World. African slaves must be considered as the basis of this agrarian
accomplishment. Their painstaking duties woefully supplied the progress of each farm land by a
supposed necessity. Malachy also notes, That our colonies are capable of very great
improvements, by the proper application of labour of blacks, has been urged by the most
experienced judges of commerce.6 It seems to illustrate the requirement of slavery to keep the
system flowing consistently. The judges of commerce were held in high regard, their opinions
were quite considerable. Especially with relevance to the economic potential of the colonies
future. Prospectively, they themselves predicted the strength in which slavery held in benefiting
the economy. The labor of these African slaves was absolutely pertinent to the trading
community for financial survival.

Slavery

provided a valuable stimulate for the economy. Many individuals of the time were apparently
aware of the necessity for slavery. In John Wesleys Thoughts Upon Slavery he provides the
following statement procured from another, But the furnishing us with slaves is necessity for the
trade, and wealth, and our glory of any nation. 7 From this declaration one can assess the reality
in which these slaves were left to face. As property they were undoubtedly subjected to a difficult
life since they were only exploited for profit. Clearly wealth was highly admired. Even high
enough to be more considerable then the life of these African slaves. Wesley shares his thoughts
by expressing, better no trade than trade procured by villainy. It is far better to have no wealth

5 Perry, Marvin. "The Rise of Modernity.", 31

6 Perry, Marvin. "The Rise of Modernity.", 31
7 Perry, Marvin. "The Rise of Modernity.", 32

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than to gain at the expense of virtue.8 Wesley evaluated the two opposing ideologies, and
surmised an incredible hypothesis. What is to be valued either virtue or wealth? In order to make
the best decision from an economic standpoint the latter had to be the answer in this case. This
does not necessarily justify slavery but it does note the highly valued priorities detained by the
supporters of the slave trade. Wesley attempts to make a final plea by stating the following.
Today resolve, God being your helper, to escape your life. Regard not money! All that a man
hath will he give for his life! Whatever you lose, lose not your soul; nothing can countervail that
loss. Immediately quit the horrid trade. 9 Wesleys plea is a noble one. Simply choose morality
over economic prosperity. His thoughts may be somewhat bias because as a supporter of the
Methodist church he assumes there is an afterlife in which ones soul can be forever cherished
after they have lived a righteous life on earth. Whether true or not he has a good point. If his
methods were favored the New World would not have seen such a spike in economic wealth. In
furtherance of monetary consumption it was vital to keep the slave trade going to impact the
expansion of the New World.

In conclusion, an

argument can be made for slavery because of the contributions it made to the economy.
Especially with regard to the time period. As the primary sources help conclude African slaves
although brutally victimized assisted the massive explosion of the financially flourishing society
of the New World. These people were massively invested in the slave trade and relied on its
productivity. Marvin Perry notes it by proclaiming, Black slavery would produce large scale
effects on culture, politics, and society that have lasted to the present day.10 If not for the trade
and industry of slavery contemporary society may not be as successful as it currently is today.

8 Perry, Marvin. "The Rise of Modernity.", 32

9Perry, Marvin. "The Rise of Modernity.", 32

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Could there have been another profitable option rather than slavery? These questions have to
addressed in order for history to not repeat itself, because however profitable slavery may have
been, it is still no justification for these horrific acts. Slavery of different varieties is still thriving
in our society. One can see the effects this has on each individual involved in these vicious cycles
and no amount of money can rationalize this insanity whether past or present.

10 Perry, Marvin. "Political and Economic Transformation." In Western Civilization A

Brief
History, 229. 11th ed. Vol. Two. New York City,
New York: Wadsworth, 2016

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References

Perry, Marvin. "Political and Economic Transformation." In Western Civilization A Brief

History, 544. 11th ed. Vol. Two. New York City, New York: Wadsworth, 2016
Perry, Marvin. "The Rise of Modernity." In Sources of the Western Tradition, 25. Ninth ed. Vol.
Two. New York City, New York: Wadsworth, 2014.