Econ 101.

April 9th, a week from today, marks the 161st anniversary of the end of the US Civil War when Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Grant at Appomattox.

Very few events have had as much impact as the Civil War, as it has gone on to influence American politics even up to today. So much of American political discourse revolves around it, and I think it is important to carefully examine things around it, to get a fuller picture of the situation.

The core of the issue revolves around the inhumane treatment of large numbers of African slaves and their descendants by the time the war began. Black people were horribly abused and used as cattle. I want to be clear, this is not an exaggeration, most people picture cotton fields when they picture slavery, but the most profitable plantations did not grow crops at all, instead breeding and selling their black populations in the manner of modern puppy mills. Black girls were forcefully bred as soon as they were old enough to have children. Few males were kept here, as they were not as necessary for the business.

An unknowable amount of people suffered under these conditions, and after the war most were just released, with no attempt made to help or guide them in a new life none of them had any concept of how to live.

The slave trade started in the 15th century, when Portuguese traders bought slaves in great numbers from African rulers. The trading of slaves in Africa has a very long history, that continues to this day, but the Transatlantic Slave Trade took this to a whole new level. It is estimated that 12 million slaves were traded over the 400 year history.

I want to break down that number for a moment, that is an average of 30,000 people per year. That is 576 people per week. The average cost of a slave was $400 in 1840, about $15,000 today. Most plantations had between 20-30 slaves, though some had up to 500. Traders would barter for these slaves on the shores of Africa for the equivalent of $1,200 int today's money. Profits are always available for those that trade in human misery.

A lot of modern language around racism in the US centers around trying to make up for what was done to these people before they were freed. The left loves to talk about reparations, and the right saying that they should not be held accountable for the actions of their ancestors.

But wait a minute. if the average plantation has 20 slaves, and the average slave costs $15,000, the lowest initial investment is $300,000, plus the cost of the land.

Do you have $300,000 just lying around? I don't.

Even in the Antebellum South, most white people did not have the money to buy 1 slave, let alone 20.

And that is the real root of the problem, who was buying and selling these unfortunate soul.

They were captured in Africa by African rulers and warlords, transported by Portuguese traders, and bought by callous Southern plantation owners.

So a rich person sold them to another rich person, who dragged them across the sea to be sold at a profit to another rich person.

I sense a theme...

To bad no one learns from history.

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