Question

respond to the following based on your reading.

1. what were some groups that support slavery in the mid-1700s?
2. what were some groups that began to fight slavery in the mid-1700s?
3. why did people begin to question the worth of slavery?

Explanation:

Since the problem is about historical groups and reasons related to slavery in the mid - 1700s, we'll answer each sub - question:

Sub - question 1: What were some groups that support slavery in the mid - 1700s?

In the mid - 1700s, plantation owners in the Southern colonies (later states) of British North America were strong supporters of slavery. They relied on enslaved labor for growing cash crops like tobacco, rice, and indigo. Also, many merchants involved in the trans - Atlantic slave trade, including those in port cities like Bristol and Liverpool in Britain, supported slavery as it was a highly profitable business. Additionally, the colonial governments in slave - holding regions often supported slavery as it was crucial for the economic stability of their areas.

Religious groups, especially some Quakers, began to oppose slavery in the mid - 1700s. The Quakers had a religious ideology that emphasized equality and the inherent worth of every individual, which led them to question the morality of slavery. Also, some Enlightenment - influenced intellectuals in Europe and North America started to speak out against slavery, as the Enlightenment ideas of natural rights and liberty made them see slavery as a violation of human rights.

The Enlightenment, with its focus on natural rights, liberty, and the equality of all human beings, made people start to question the morality of owning other human beings. Also, the growing awareness of the inhumane conditions of the trans - Atlantic slave trade and the lives of enslaved people on plantations led to moral objections. Economically, in some areas, there were discussions about the long - term viability and efficiency of slave - based economies compared to other forms of labor (though this was less of a primary driver than moral and ideological factors). Additionally, religious revivals and the spread of more egalitarian religious ideas (like those of the Quakers) contributed to people questioning the worth of slavery.

Answer:

• Plantation owners in Southern British North American colonies (e.g., Virginia, South Carolina)
• Merchants involved in the trans - Atlantic slave trade (e.g., in British port cities like Bristol, Liverpool)
• Colonial governments in slave - holding regions

Sub - question 2: What were some groups that began to fight slavery in the mid - 1700s?