THE ANTEBELLUM SOUTH THE OLD SOUTH & SLAVERY 1820-1860 A10Q 7.10.30.
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Essential Question
• To what degree was the South developing as a distinctively different region from the rest of the United States during the period 1820 to 1860? • To what degree did slavery shape life in
the South during this period?
(Consider political, economic, social and intellectual aspects of life in the South)
Characteristics of the
Antebellum South
Characteristics of the
Antebellum South
1. Primarily agrarian.
2. Economic power shifted from the “upper South” to the “lower South.”
3. “Cotton Is King!” * 1860 5 mil. bales a yr. (57% of total US exports).
4. Very slow development of industrialization.
5. Rudimentary financial system.
6. Inadequate transportation system.
Value of Cotton Exports As a Percentage of All U.S.
Exports
Value of Cotton Exports As a Percentage of All U.S.
Exports
Graniteville Textile Co.
Graniteville Textile Co.
Founded in 1845, it was the South’s first attempt at industrialization in
Richmond, VA
Eli Whitney• Invented cotton gin in 1793• Removed the seed, cotton production now seen as
profitable• 50% more efficient than picking by hand• Cotton becomes main cash crop of south• Increased the need for slaves, unintended effect• Black Belt- cotton production moved into Georgia,
Mississippi, Alabama
Southern Economy• South became a monopolistic economy, dominated by wealthy
plantation owners• Industrial growth lagged behind the North• Southerners resentful the North made huge profits at their expense• South complained of northern middlemen, bankers, and shippers• South resentful being so dependent on northern manufactures and
markets• Attention was drawn away from the development of southern cities
“Hauling the Whole Week’s Pickings”
William Henry Brown, 1842
“Hauling the Whole Week’s Pickings”
William Henry Brown, 1842
Southern Society (1850)
Southern Society (1850)“Slavocracy”
[plantation owners]
THE “PLAIN FOLK”[WHITE YEOMAN FARMERS]
6,000,000
Black Freemen
Black Slaves3,200,000
250,000
Total US Population 23,000,000[9,250,000 in the South = 40%]
Planter ClassPlanter Class1. Held enormous political power
* Accomplished this despite small numbers * Especially true in upper south
2. Often viewed as “Aristocrats” * Most did not live life of luxury * Most $ went into purchasing more land
3. Adopted code of “Chivalry” * Concern for defending honor
“Southern Lady”“Southern Lady”1. Subordinate to men
“Women, like children, have but one right, and that is the right to protection. The right to protection involves the obligation to obey”
2. Minimal Exposure to “public world”
• Small Plantations * May spin, weave, assist with farming
• Large Plantations * Less involved
“Plain Folk”
• Subsistence Farmers• “Yeoman Farmer”
• Inferior Education• Lower Literacy Rates
• Subordinate to Upper Class
“Plain Folk”• Minority • “Hill people”
• Living in or west of Appalachians• Isolated from slave culture
• “White Trash” or “Crackers”• Extremely poor whites
• Majority – • Live around Plantations• Depend on upper class for
economic support
Weaknesses of Plantation System
•Relied on a one crop economy•Repelled large scale European immigration•Stimulated racism among poor whites•Created an aristocratic political elite
US Laws Regarding Slavery
US Laws Regarding Slavery
1. U. S. Constitution: * 3/5s compromise [I.2] * fugitive slave clause [IV.2]
2. 1793 Fugitive Slave Act.
3. 1850 stronger Fugitive Slave Act.
Southern Slavery--> An Aberration?
Southern Slavery--> An Aberration?J 1780s: 1st antislavery society created in
Phila.
J By 1804: slavery eliminated from last northern state.
J 1807: the legal termination of the slave trade, enforced by the Royal Navy.
J 1820s: newly indep. Republics of Central & So. America declared their slaves free.
J 1833: slavery abolished throughout the British Empire.
J 1844: slavery abolished in the Fr. colonies.
J 1861: the serfs of Russia were emancipated.
Slavery Was Less Efficient
in the U. S. than Elsewhere
Slavery Was Less Efficient
in the U. S. than Elsewhere
J High cost of keeping slaves fromescaping.
J GOAL raise the “exit cost.”u Slave patrols.
u Southern Black Codes.
u Cut off a toe or a foot.
Slave System• Slave pop. 4 million by 1860, 4x as many in 1800• Importation ended in 1808• Slaves were treated as property• They were deprived of their African names, culture and
religion•Africanism- survived as an African American subculture
in music, religion and folklore•Deprived of their dignity
Treatment of Slaves• Suffered cruel physical and psychological treatment• Were convinced they were inferior and deserved their lot in life• Slaves were provided with limited diet, clothing, housing and
medical care• Discipline by whip very common• House servants treated better than field workers• 75% worked as field hands• Illegal to teach slaves to read and write- fear give slaves idea of
freedom
Treatment of Slaves• Slave pop. Increased due to breeding• Owners rewarded slave women for having many children• Sexual abuse of female slaves common• White slave owners often fathered sizable mulatto
population, most remained slaves• Marriages were not recognized• Sale of slaves did not respect family ties• Sold down the river- meant being sold to owner in deep south
The Culture of SlaveryThe Culture of Slavery1. Black Christianity [Baptists or
Methodists]: * more emotional worship services. * negro spirituals.
2. “Pidgin” or Gullah languages.
3. Nuclear family with extended kin links,where possible.
4. Importance of music in their lives. [esp. spirituals].
Slave ResistanceSlave Resistance1. Slowing down the work pace
2. Isolated acts of sabotage.
3. Escape via the Underground Railroad.
4. Organized Revolts (Rarest form)
5. Poisoned food
Haitian Revolution - 1791• Blacks outnumber whites• 475,000 Blacks • 40,000 Whites
• Estimated Deaths• 200,000 Blacks• 100,000 Whites
• 1804 - Haitian Constitution• Followed by Massacre of remaining
Whites
• May have sparked increase in US attempted revolts
Slave RebellionsSlave Rebellions• 1800 - Gabriel Prosser • Richmond, VA• 1000 Slaves • Plot revealed before revolt began • 35 executed
• 1822 - Denmark Vesey• Free Black living in Charleston• Rumored 9000 followers• Plot revealed before revolt began• Led to further suppression
Slave RebellionsSlave Rebellions• 1833 – Nat Turner in Virginia
• Slave Preacher• Killed 60 white men, women, children• 100+ Slaves murdered in response• Caused widespread anxiety among plantation
owners causing stricter black codes
B. WHITE SOCIETY & CULTURE• Why did many Southerners support the slave
system when 75% didn’t own slaves?• Was there a change in attitude re slavery?• How did they justify slavery?• Who did NOT support the slave system?
Plantation House, St. Mary’s, MD (1830s)Southern Yeoman farmer’s home
Southern White Paranoia• Feared more revolts• Infuriated by abolitionists propaganda• Believed institution benefited both races• Biological racial superiority to justify slavery• Gag Resolutions- southern fears of debate of anti-slavery
appeals- prevented debate on abolition proposals• Black Codes- banned from holding office, no jury trial,
could not carry firearms
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