How and Why Did Slavery Expand in the Early 19th Century?

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Response 8
Summaries
In John Brown’s Last Speech, which he wrote on a note, Brown defends his actions right before facing execution. He had been found guilty of raiding an armory in West Virginia to acquire arms. In the speech, he owns up to his actions but does not regret that he intended to free slaves. In addition, he insinuates that had his intentions been geared toward benefitting the rich and powerful, his punishment would have been less severe (Brown par.3). Precisely, his speech aimed at setting the record straight regarding his actions.
In chapter 9 (The Mississippi Valley in the Time of Cotton), Walter Johnson details the experiences of slaves in Mississippi. He explains how cotton plantation owners sought to enhance productivity by exploiting the slaves (Johnson 244). The author also explores plantation owners' means to make the slaves as productive as possible. In short, slaves were the crucial cog that kept the cotton industry i...