What books did pro-slavery Southern whites use to defend slavery?

Proponents of slavery in the American South used various types of literature, including books, pamphlets, and articles, to defend the institution of slavery. Some notable books that were used to support slavery include:

1. "Pro-Slavery Argument" by George Fitzhugh (1852): Fitzhugh's book argued that slavery was a positive institution that benefited both enslaved people and slaveholders. He asserted that slavery was economically efficient and morally justified because it provided care and protection for enslaved individuals while promoting social order.

2. "The Pro-Slavery Argument: As Maintained by the Most Distinguished Writers of the Southern States" (1852): This book was a compilation of essays and articles written by prominent pro-slavery intellectuals and politicians, including John C. Calhoun, Beverley Tucker, and George McDuffie. It presented a range of arguments in defense of slavery, including economic, social, political, and religious justifications.

3. "A Defense of Negro Slavery" by Josiah Priest (1852): Priest's book argued that slavery was divinely sanctioned and that it upheld biblical principles of social hierarchy and subordination. He portrayed enslaved people as inferior to whites and argued that slavery was a form of benevolent paternalism that benefited them by providing guidance, protection, and Christian education.

4. "The Elements of Morality, Including Polity" by Francis Lieber (1839): Lieber's book, while not explicitly pro-slavery, contained arguments that were often used to justify the institution. He argued that enslavement could be morally permissible in certain circumstances and that it was necessary to maintain social order and stability in certain societies.

5. "Lectures on Slavery" by Thomas R. Dew (1847): Dew's book was considered one of the most influential defenses of slavery in the antebellum South. He presented economic and social arguments in support of slavery, claiming that it was essential to the economic prosperity and social progress of the South.

These books, along with other pro-slavery literature, played a significant role in shaping the ideological landscape of the antebellum South and were used to rationalize and defend the institution of slavery in the face of growing criticism and opposition.