Fact Check: In 1860, there were fewer than 10 Republicans in the United States who owned slaves, and the vast majority of the approximately four million slaves were owned by Democrats.

Fact-Check: "In 1860, there were fewer than 10 Republicans in the United States who owned slaves, and the vast majority of the approximately four million slaves were owned by Democrats."

What We Know

In 1860, the United States had a total slave population of approximately 3.95 million individuals, with about 393,975 slave owners recorded in the census. This translates to roughly 1.26% of the total population owning slaves, a statistic that has often been misrepresented in various discussions about slavery (Selected Statistics on Slavery in the United States, Behind the Number: Only 1.6% of US Citizens Owned Slaves In 1860?).

The claim that fewer than 10 Republicans owned slaves is supported by historical interpretations that suggest the Republican Party, founded in the 1850s, was primarily an anti-slavery party. Dinesh D'Souza notes that while a handful of Republicans did own slaves, the vast majority of slaveholders were Democrats, who were the pro-slavery party at the time (Were owners of slaves in 1860, largely Democrats?).

Analysis

The assertion that "fewer than 10 Republicans owned slaves" is somewhat ambiguous, as it lacks specific historical documentation. However, it aligns with the understanding that the Republican Party was largely opposed to slavery, particularly in the North. The claim that "more than 99% were owned by Democrats" is more contentious. While it is widely accepted that the Democratic Party was the pro-slavery party, the exact percentage of slave ownership attributed to Democrats versus Republicans is difficult to quantify precisely due to the lack of comprehensive records from that time (Fact check: Social media post underrepresents slave ownership ..., Viral post gets it wrong about extent of slavery in 1860).

The statistics regarding slave ownership show that while a small percentage of the overall population owned slaves, the societal structure of the South was heavily reliant on slavery, which influenced both political parties. The claim that only a few Republicans owned slaves does not account for the broader context of how non-slaveholding whites benefited from the institution of slavery, thus complicating the narrative (The Extent of Slave Ownership in the United States in 1860, How many Republicans owned slaves in 1860? - Answers).

Conclusion

The claim is Partially True. While it is accurate that the majority of slave owners were Democrats and that the Republican Party was founded on anti-slavery principles, the assertion that fewer than 10 Republicans owned slaves lacks concrete evidence. Furthermore, the societal implications of slavery extended beyond mere ownership, involving many who benefited from the institution without directly owning slaves. Therefore, while the claim captures a significant aspect of the political landscape of the time, it oversimplifies the complexities of slave ownership and societal involvement in slavery.

Sources

1. Selected Statistics on Slavery in the United States
2. Behind the Number: Only 1.6% of US Citizens Owned Slaves In 1860?
3. Were owners of slaves in 1860, largely Democrats?
4. Fact check: Social media post underrepresents slave ownership ...
5. Viral post gets it wrong about extent of slavery in 1860
6. The Extent of Slave Ownership in the United States in 1860
7. How many Republicans owned slaves in 1860? - Answers