This meme fails to understand terrorism. There is no meaningful argument that John Brown was not a terrorist, at least in some of his actions. But that doesn't mean he was wrong, just that he worked with the tools he had.

Slavery was not terrorism, because it was not trying to achieve anything, it was itself the desired result.

Some of the supporters of slavery engaged in terrorism, at least as much as John Brown ever did.

This meme fails to understand terrorism. There is no meaningful argument that John Brown was not a terrorist, at least in some of his actions. But that doesn’t mean he was wrong, just that he worked with the tools he had.

... hence why the title quotes Marx.

Slavery was not terrorism, because it was not trying to achieve anything, it was itself the desired result.

"The goal of slavery was slavery" is circular logic.

Slavery was not terrorism,

disagree entirely. they terrorised their own slaves to prevent uprising, and also, to make the gulf stark - no humanizing the 'property' - and how do you do that? random acts of violence to keep 'em separated and fearful.

Slavery IS terrorism. Just not the international terrorism you're used to.

“The goal of slavery was slavery” is circular logic.

I'm not sure how better to make my point, but I can't really disagree with you. Let me try again.

"Terrorism" is using ineffective tactics to cause a disproportionate response in your enemy, with the goal that they do something beneficial to you.

Slavery is not that. Slavery is not trying to achieve a separate goal. It's a system of oppression. Like all such systems, the only thing it is trying to accomplish is self-sustainability.

Slavery uses terrorism, as I mentioned, yes. But the only thing it's trying to accomplish is itself.

Terrorism is an effort to make someone else do something.

“Terrorism” is using ineffective tactics to cause a disproportionate response in your enemy, with the goal that they do something beneficial to you.

Ah, I think this is where we actually disagree. "Terrorism", to my thinking, is using terror as a means to achieve political goals. Thus, a fascist regime slaughtering people in the streets to achieve acquiescence to the regime is just as much terrorism as a fringe party in a democracy setting off a bomb in the legislature. The fundamental element of both is the achievement of broader political goals by terror.

Thus, slavery, seeking to achieve the acquisition of cheap labor for the elite by the use of a system of brutality and arbitrary hierarchy with the conscious aim of inciting terror in the labor force to maintain their 'cooperation', is certainly predicated on the use of terrorism.

I suppose I can see those definitions.

I would still not call slavery terrorism, if only because terrorism is not slavery. Terrorism is a tool used by people who promote slavery.

I suppose I would say, more clearly than the meme, that American slavery was an enterprise which inherently involved systemic terrorism.

But I didn't make the meme myself, and even I did, I would probably find that too wordy to clarify anyway, and just have said something close to the meme as-is. :p

I'll buy that for a dollar.