In response to the abolition movement, the South took several steps to protect slavery. These included:
* Passing laws that prohibited the teaching of abolitionist literature and the distribution of abolitionist materials.
* Adopting new slave codes that made it more difficult for slaves to gain their freedom.
* Increasing the use of violence and intimidation to suppress abolitionist activity.
The South also sought to build support for slavery among Northerners. This was done through a variety of means, including:
* Publishing proslavery literature and pamphlets.
* Giving speeches in support of slavery.
* Lobbying politicians to support proslavery policies.
The South's efforts to defend slavery were ultimately unsuccessful. The abolitionist movement continued to grow in strength, and eventually the Northern states began to pass laws that limited the expansion of slavery. The election of Abraham Lincoln as president in 1860 led to the secession of several Southern states and the outbreak of the American Civil War. The war ended in 1865 with the defeat of the Confederacy, and slavery was abolished in the United States.