Jun 15 2011 09:57 pm
Posted by Kevin Persaud under June 16 Assignment
Mobile, New York City’s Southern Brother
Mobile and New York City were two remarkable cities during the 19th century. In the north New York dominated the trading scene as one of the most popular and business driven ports along the East Coast. While in the south New York City’s “younger brother” Mobile, Alabama was one of the largest international seaports on the Gulf Coast.
They both had some key attributes that made them similar. They both started out as cities that prospered because of their geographical location. New York City prospered because it was easily accessible from the Atlantic ocean. Which made it easy to commute back and forth to Europe. While Mobile was situated on a prime spot near the Gulf of Mexico, making is easily accessible by boats coming from Atlantic Ocean. This also made it easy to exchange goods and slaves with the West Indies and Africa.
Like any two brothers New York City and Mobile had their disagreements on certain issues. For example, when it came to slavery and African Americans New York City and Mobile had differing views. While NYC decided to start gradually freeing slaves in 1799, Mobile did not decide to free its slaves until another 20 years later in 1819. This was mainly because Mobile was a city that relied on slaves to pick cotton, which was the city’s main export. While in NYC there was more of a demand for skilled labor to work in factories.