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Common historical fallacies: Difference between revisions

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==== logical fallacy 1: colonial slave v. overall population growth ====
==== logical fallacy 1: colonial slave v. overall population growth ====
* the growth of colonial African slavery was linear (upward but constant) until the development of the cotton gin
* the growth of colonial African slavery was linear (upward but constant) until the development of the cotton gin
** up to 1800, colonial population growth was much higher for whites than for slaves
** up to 1800, colonial population growth was significantly higher for whites than for slaves (see chart)
** whereas, after 1800, slave population increased dramatically, overtaking white populations in many areas of the south
* <U>CONCLUSION</U>: therefore increases in the slave population was not the basis of the colonial development
*** therefore increases in the slave population was not the basis of the colonial development
click EXPAND to view comparative table of colonial white and slave population growth:
click EXPAND to view comparative table of colonial white and slave population growth:
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* after 1800, the slave population increased dramatically following introduction of the cotton gin
* non-black population growth exceeded that of blacks (free and slave) for all decennial (every 10 years) census counts except 1810 & 1880
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==== logical fallacy 2: colonial per capita wealth not reliant upon slavery ====
==== logical fallacy 2: colonial per capita wealth not reliant upon slavery ====
* in 1774, slavery represented a significant proportion of per capita private wealth:
* in 1774, slavery represented a significant proportion of per capita private wealth: