All,
I've written several POD's (and some amateur novels) regarding alternative history of slavery in the United States.
Though viewed as a Southern institution, in reality, slavery was a universal trade (New England shippers, New York Bankers, Northern mills whom processed the cotton, etc) that affected the entire American economy. At times, cotton exports provided 50% of American's foreign specie.
How would an early emancipation (voluntary) affect America's economic growth?
Would other areas rise to compensate?
Would efficiencies emerge?
I'm assuming liberated blacks would be less interested in sharecropping and the labor force would diminish. However, some efficiencies would arise.
My opinion is that this would hinder America in the short term, perhaps spurring more industrial development in the south. Feel free to offer diverging views.
On a similar vein, how would this affect America politically?
I've long felt that slavery was the elephant in the room that politically stagnated the country for 80 years ("YOU Bought Louisiana?! How could you?! How does this affect slavery?!, or, "You conquered half of Mexico?! Oh, dear god! This will affect the Free/Slave state balance in the Senate!!!"), as entire political parties revolved around it. Presidents were only installed if they were ameniable to it.
Without the "State-rights" cries of the south (almost entirely over slavery, though partially of tariff policy geared towards Northern Manufacturing at the expense of Southern agriculture), would early America be a more centralized government versus states?
Thanks.
Expand all you like.