Re: [OPE] Marx's explanation regarding the need for the U.S. South to obtain new territory

If I recall my reading of Cairns who was a radical Ricardian writing at the same time as Marx, the land exhaustion argument was advanced by Cairns too. My impression on reading Cairns was that he was an impressive historical materialist.
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From: ope-bounces@lists.csuchico.edu [ope-bounces@lists.csuchico.edu] On Behalf Of Paul Zarembka [zarembka@buffalo.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, February 15, 2011 5:34 PM
To: Outline on Political Economy
Subject: [OPE] Marx's explanation regarding the need for the U.S. South to obtain new territory

Marx wrote that the deteriorating soil resulting from the crops being grown in the U.S. South led to the need for slave masters to expand onto new land. There are two pillars of such a view: 1. the soil was truly deteriorating, and 2. the movement into new territories would resolve the economic problem.

Regarding the second point, I cite the following:
“Since slavery was unadaptable to much of the territorial lands, which eventually would be admitted as free states, the South became more anxious about maintaining its position as an equal in the Union. Southerners thus strongly supported the annexation of Texas (certain to be a slave state) and the Mexican War and even agitated for the annexation of Cuba.” (www.us-civilwar.com<http://www.us-civilwar.com>)
In other words, it is stated above the Marx is wrong that slavery could be incorporated into the new lands (it was 'unadaptable' thereto).

If he is wrong on this point, then Marx was incorrect in his explanation for the expansion drive of slave masters. Slavery becomes disconnected from that economic basis Marx presented.

Comments?

Paul Z.

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