The institution of slavery has existed throughout the history of humanity, although its configuration has continually transformed over time. Slavery played an important role in the United States, as it was economically advantageous to the South. The American Civil War, partly due to the issue of slavery, nearly brought the young nation to its knees, facing complete and utter destruction. Slavery played a critical, yet sinister, role in the development of the United States. The 55th governor of South Carolina, George McDuffie, had strong opinions in his support of the institution of slavery. He used his speech to the state legislature in 1835 to express his views on slavery and justifications for the institution. McDuffie used religion as a means to legitimize slavery and continued to fight against outside pressure to abolish the institution. McDuffie opened by acknowledging the rights of his State and the protection of its sovereignty from any foreign authority. While he was probably referring to other nations, he appeared to be referring primarily to the federal government. He continued to say that outside pressures have interfered with the peace and stability of South Carolina and that it is essential that the state maintain its autonomy. This is an example of the fact that views on slavery had begun to change and the institution had begun to receive enormous criticism. McDuffie viewed the past as justification and believed that the institution of slavery was consistent with God's will. He stated that blacks best fit the category of slavery. He justified his belief in both Judaism and Christianity by pointing out that "the patriarchs themselves, those chosen instruments of God, were slave owners." The governor......middle of paper......of the institution, due to the need to preserve social classes. George McDuffie attempted to legitimize slavery by referring to humanity's history with the institution of slavery and determined its necessity in an unjust world, a world that needed a proper structure. McDuffie's views indicate that the South was trying to maintain the institution of slavery, while the rest of the nation and the world began to denounce the institution. Therefore, it seemed that greater criticism of slavery led to more defensive approaches from its supporters. McDuffie's speech highlighted the rift that has begun to divide the nation and will eventually lead to civil war. Works Cited McDuffie, George. "The natural slavery of the negro." Natural Slavery of Negro (January 10, 2009): 1. Primary Search, EBSCOhost (accessed September 12, 2011).