Summary Of Slavery By James Farr

From 1861 to 1865, the United States was divided into the North and South and was engaged in the bloodiest war to ever have taken place on American soil. There were many causes of the war including States’ Rights, expansion disagreements, and of course states seceding from the union, but the most prevailing reason was slavery. That being said, in order to defend their institution of slavery, The South would often look to John Locke and his works. However, the only issue was that they would cherry pick and paraphrase his words in order to better help their cause. This paper intends to examine James Farr’s essay “Locke, Natural Law, and New World Slavery” and discuss how John Locke’s works as a whole would disagree with the Southerners who so often looked to his words
He then continues by talking about how Locke fundamentally disagreed with Filmer and his views about the freedom of man and the unnecessity of government. Farr also talks about how although Locke disagreed with Grotius on some things but that they are lockstep regarding slavery. Farr then goes on to talk about the theoretical applications of slavery. He starts by saying how those who would like to read Locke as a justifier of new world slavery are making it extremely difficult on themselves. Specifically, because of how Locke applied restrictions to Grotius and some of his ideas regarding slavery. He also defends Locke by talking about how Locke didn’t discuss the new world unlike Grotius and Filmer. Following this Farr continues on by discussing the instructions in the Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina and how even though Locke stood by to the addition of the “absolute power and authority” it doesn’t make him a racist. Farr then notes how “In terms of his theory, Indian and African slaves suffered unjust bondage” which dispels the notion that Locke was in favor or supported new world