Suppose that all 13 of the founding colonies loved slavery. Sure, the South had farms (I learned last week some wheat farmers had slaves profitably) and later they would get cotton. But many there are many other uses for slaves, such as household servants. The North might not use them as much as the South, but they will have them. Might need a POD as early as 1760s to get this change in public opinion, but let's just say whatever the POD is, slavery is viewed favorable on ideological reasons. Let's just suppose that at least until 1860s, at least 75% of the voting population in every single state views slavery as something good for society, possibly longer if no forces shift public opinion. Not a bad thing, not an obsolete institution, not a necessary evil, but good. Any free black who is talented or gifted is viewed as an exception, just as a tall female doesn't indicate the tallness of them in general.
And any non-white can become a slave if they are born while their parents are defaulting on debt (I think other civilizations had a combination of debt and chattel bondage?)
So... what happens? I mean, obviously some outside force is going to shift public opinion away from slavery. No one in the modern world openly accepts chattel bondage (not to say the modern world completely eliminated it, but no one openly has slaves and supports slavery). Would it be the Quakers? Some of them go to America and give them an Enlightenment? Maybe having to resort to conscription in WW2 will end slavery (unless you can tell me this somehow butterflies Pearl Harbor)? Or will it be put off until the 1950s (communism will probably seem much more appealing than being a slave and to avoid a slave revolt the American capitalists must show blacks there is a route to a comfortable life besides revolt) I'm pretty sure it's silly to say that if slavery is viewed favorable by all states in 1860s it will continue to today.
Or something silly like the British blockading America to end slavery (let's see... weakly defended Canada vs an America that can deploy 5 million troops, maybe 1/8 of which needs to remain behind to suppress a revolt, I'm sure that will end up making America kneel to British power)?
And any non-white can become a slave if they are born while their parents are defaulting on debt (I think other civilizations had a combination of debt and chattel bondage?)
So... what happens? I mean, obviously some outside force is going to shift public opinion away from slavery. No one in the modern world openly accepts chattel bondage (not to say the modern world completely eliminated it, but no one openly has slaves and supports slavery). Would it be the Quakers? Some of them go to America and give them an Enlightenment? Maybe having to resort to conscription in WW2 will end slavery (unless you can tell me this somehow butterflies Pearl Harbor)? Or will it be put off until the 1950s (communism will probably seem much more appealing than being a slave and to avoid a slave revolt the American capitalists must show blacks there is a route to a comfortable life besides revolt) I'm pretty sure it's silly to say that if slavery is viewed favorable by all states in 1860s it will continue to today.
Or something silly like the British blockading America to end slavery (let's see... weakly defended Canada vs an America that can deploy 5 million troops, maybe 1/8 of which needs to remain behind to suppress a revolt, I'm sure that will end up making America kneel to British power)?