Final answer:
White historians have minimized the immorality and scope of slavery in the United States through various means, including the portrayal of white slaveholders as benevolent caretakers. The cultural and social influences of the time further shaped their perceptions, while pro-slavery arguments and racist ideas justified the institution.
Step-by-step explanation:
White historians have tended to minimize the immorality and scope of slavery in the United States through various means. One common approach is the concept of paternalism, which portrayed white slaveholders as benevolent caretakers of their enslaved people. This distorted view of slavery ignores the harsh realities of dehumanization and trauma experienced by the enslaved.
Another factor is the cultural and social influences that shaped the perceptions of white historians. Southern culture, deeply rooted in the ideology of white supremacy, created a behavioral code that placed honor and protection of white womanhood above all else. Class tensions were also reduced among white southerners, bonding them together based on race despite economic inequalities.
Furthermore, there were pro-slavery arguments that circulated during the antebellum era, such as the idea that slaveholders' care made the enslaved better off than wage workers in the North. Racist ideas underlying polygenism also played a role in justifying slavery.