Final answer:
Non-slaveholding Southern whites supported slavery due to beliefs in white supremacy, the idea of paternalism, and perceived economic benefits.
Step-by-step explanation:
Non-slaveholding Southern whites supported slavery for several reasons. One key reason was the belief in white supremacy, which bound both poor and wealthy whites together. Slavery helped defuse class tensions among whites, as they had race in common with plantation owners. Southern whites also feared slave uprisings, which further reinforced their support for slavery.
Another common argument in support of slavery was the idea of paternalism, which claimed that slaveholders were acting in the best interests of their slaves. However, this portrayal of slavery was a gross misrepresentation of its reality. Slavery was a dehumanizing and horrifying institution, but enslaved people also found ways to resist and create their own communities.
Furthermore, some argued that slavery provided economic benefits for whites in the South. Slaves performed menial tasks, allowing white southerners to pursue other endeavors. This perspective contrasted with the wage labor system in the North, where whites believed they were performing tasks similar to slaves without the opportunity for advancement.