Free Labor

Definition

Free labor refers to the system of employment where workers are not enslaved or coerced, but rather freely choose to work for an employer in exchange for wages. This concept was central to the economic and political debates surrounding the expansion of slavery in the United States in the 1850s.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The concept of free labor was a key tenet of the Republican Party platform in the 1850s, which opposed the expansion of slavery into new territories.
2. Proponents of free labor argued that it was essential for the growth of a vibrant, industrialized economy and the development of a robust middle class.
3. The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 allowed settlers in those territories to decide the slavery question for themselves, a policy known as popular sovereignty, which was seen by many as a threat to the expansion of free labor.
4. The Republican Party emerged in the 1850s as the political party most closely associated with the defense of free labor and the opposition to the expansion of slavery.
5. The conflict over the expansion of slavery and the preservation of free labor was a major factor leading to the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861.

Review Questions

• Explain the significance of the concept of free labor in the political debates surrounding the expansion of slavery in the 1850s.
  • The concept of free labor was central to the political debates over the expansion of slavery in the 1850s. Proponents of free labor argued that it was essential for the growth of a vibrant, industrialized economy and the development of a robust middle class. They saw the expansion of slavery as a threat to this vision, as it would undermine the ability of workers to freely choose their employment and potentially displace free labor with slave labor. The Republican Party emerged as the political party most closely associated with the defense of free labor and the opposition to the expansion of slavery, making the conflict over free labor a major factor leading to the outbreak of the American Civil War.
• Describe how the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 was seen as a threat to the expansion of free labor.
  • The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 allowed settlers in those territories to decide the slavery question for themselves, a policy known as popular sovereignty. This was seen by many as a threat to the expansion of free labor, as it opened the door for the potential spread of slavery into new territories. Proponents of free labor argued that the decision to allow slavery in these territories should not be left to the local population, as it could undermine the ability of workers to freely choose their employment and potentially displace free labor with slave labor. The Republican Party, which was closely associated with the defense of free labor, strongly opposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act for this reason.
• Analyze the role of the concept of free labor in the emergence and platform of the Republican Party in the 1850s.
  • The concept of free labor was a key tenet of the Republican Party platform in the 1850s, as the party emerged as the political force most closely associated with the defense of free labor and the opposition to the expansion of slavery. Proponents of free labor argued that it was essential for the growth of a vibrant, industrialized economy and the development of a robust middle class, and they saw the expansion of slavery as a threat to this vision. The Republican Party's commitment to preserving and expanding free labor was a major factor in its rapid growth and success in the 1850s, as it appealed to a broad coalition of voters who were concerned about the potential negative impacts of the spread of slavery. The conflict over free labor was a central issue that contributed to the outbreak of the American Civil War, as the Republican Party's defense of free labor was seen as a direct challenge to the interests of the slave-holding states.

Related terms

Wage Labor: A system where workers are paid a wage or salary by an employer in exchange for their labor, as opposed to being enslaved or working under other forms of coercion.

Abolitionism:

The movement to end the practice of slavery, which advocated for the complete abolition of slavery and the establishment of a society based on free labor.

Popular Sovereignty:

The principle that the residents of a territory should have the right to decide whether to allow slavery within that territory, as opposed to having the decision imposed from the federal government.