The "panic of 1837 moved America ever closer to a civil war as the south wanted no part of such a high risk financial system(speculative capital etc.). The drop in cotton prices hit the southern farmers HARD. The slave issue first surfaced in the north after Union troops got their read ends blown off of them by sharp shooting Confederate infantry! With DC being @ risk of being overrun by the Gray troops the Blue infantry needed a humanitarian/emotional issue to garner more support & manpower to be able to handle the tough as nails Confederate infantry. Bigoted racism did rear it's ugly head with the persecution of our American Indians(Trail of Tears etc.). Our Japanese citizens were also persecuted for their nationality shortly after America's entry into war with Japan.
Hopefully modern day Americans have learned their lesson about abusing their fellow humanity. You are correct as the southern Democrat elected officials played the now freed black slaves to their advantage by giving them lip service, all the while keeping the now freed former slaves as poverty stricken as possible. Slavery, indentured servitude & political pandering always is $$$$$/power & control oriented. The modern day political based racial pandering is WHY America still has government dependent welfare black ghettos. Read the links below about the "SEGRAGATED" 442nd Regimental Combat Team(Purple Heart Battalion), the BEST America ever fielded in combat like my HEROES!!!
en.wikipedia.org