`Opening paragraph is non-NPOV ==  I consider this line: ``...in consideration of the labor provided for free over several centuries, without which the United States would likely have never attained its wealth and global power,`` to be non-neutral, a personal opinion and a unsubstantiated claim. While African slavery in the 1700's and 1800's did have a huge impact on the agricultural community in the south, as well as strong political ramifications, during the same time period - I consider it quiet a stretch to claim that it's ``likely`` that without slaves the US wouldn't be the global super power it is today.  The USA's current dominant status in global politics and economics is derived directly from the events leading up to, and the outcomes, of WWII. I see no correlation between the industrial manufacturing and production capabilities which originally brought the US power during the 1940's to slaves who worked in the cotton fields over 100 years prior to the attaining of wealth and power in these modern times.  If someone wants to try and justify this, fire away.      == `