Slavery had an insurmountable impact on the US for a number of reasons like creating a larger conflict among the people who had lived in the north who were against slavery and the people who had lived in the south who for the most part favored it. This eventually would lead to civil war and later would give African Americans more rights which would also end up dividing the country again by people who did believe that African Americans deserve rights and the people that didn't think so. The events that led up to the Civil War and the events that came after it shaped the nation in an irreversible manner. Without slavery, the very soul of the nation would never have existed and thankfully, despite the awful experiences that millions suffered, we have garnered a new love and appreciation for cultures that would've never organically seen.
Firstly, one of the most life-changing effects of slavery have been the legislation and amendments added to the Constitution. Some of the most powerful and impactful moments of recent history have been to counter the effects of slavery, such as the Reconstruction amendments and the reversal of Jim Crow laws. Some of the most important freedoms of the 19th and 20th centuries came from reversing slavery and therefore had impacts on all people of color. Many groups that were persecuted, such as Asians and Hispanics, also breathed sighs of relief when certain pieces of legislation got passed.
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Secondly, the American economy was built upon the backs of African slaves. When the southern region of the United States decided to focus on cotton and tobacco, every farm and plantation was carried by field slaves that worked endless hours for their masters. The American economy boomed with the effects of not only the slave trade, but also the agricultural industry as a whole. Without slavery, the United States would not become the superpower they did in the late 20th century. The economy of the United States continues to benefit from the effects of slavery, as seen in the highly marketable farming industry we boast today.
Lastly, the religious history of the United States could not be considered in a conversation at all without slavery. Many of the currently existing branches of Christianity were based off of slave beliefs merging with the beliefs of their owners. Not only that, Africans that were brought over and bought into the south created an entirely new religion based around Creole and Jamaican beliefs, which is now considered the practice of voodoo, which many African-Americans still believe in and practice.
As one can see, the rich history of the United States would be nothing without the tragedy of slavery. Without slavery, this country would not be as powerful, as respected or as feared as we are today. We must all give thanks to those that suffered and gave their lives for the growth, development and advancement of the country. Hopefully, future generations of the United States and the world keep this in mind and give slavery the respect and gravitas it deserves.
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