The Rise of the Southern Elite

The value of slaves was rising very publicly. It was illegal to bring more slaves from Africa. There was a current of opinion within some southern states, especially on the eastern seaboard, to bring back the importation of African slaves. And they thought this can't last. Too many immigrants coming into the northern states. They work in the factories. We don't have any factories. And we don't particularly want any non-Anglo immigrants either. So we got to do it now, strike now.