Final answer:
During the antebellum period in the United States, Southerners used religion to defend slavery, viewing it as a natural and God-ordained institution. They cited biblical passages, such as Noah's curse on his son Ham, to support their beliefs. Religious leaders in the South also promoted the idea that slavery was a necessary evil or even beneficial.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that Southerners had always used religion as a means of defending slavery is true. During the antebellum period in the United States, many white Southerners supported and justified slavery using religious arguments. They believed that slavery was a natural and God-ordained institution, and used biblical passages to support their views.
For example, some Southerners pointed to the story of Noah's curse on his son Ham as evidence of God's approval of the enslavement of people of African descent.
Religious leaders in the South also used their pulpits to argue that slavery was a necessary evil or even a positive good for both enslaved people and slaveholders.
Learn more about Religion and slavery in the Southern United States