Rise of the Cotton Kingdom
Feb 22, 2016
Rise of the Cotton Kingdom
Upper South
Maryland, Virginia, and N. Carolina Produced tobacco, hemp, wheat, and vegetables
Deep South
Georgia, S. Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas Rice, Sugarcane, and Cotton (depended upon cotton) Slavery very prominent Cotton Gin 1793 Eli Whitney
Industry in the South
Prospered 1820-1860 Less manufacturing than the North Barriers
Lack of money or capital Large portion of population consisted of Slaves
Southern Transportation
Railroads but less than north, were local, problem during Civil War Natural Waterways
The South’s People Small Farms and Rural Poor
Majority of the South’s farmers Yeomens—did not own slaves Tenant Farmers – rented land, paid with goods or money
Plantations
Wealthy land owners Several thousand acres Very few, measured wealth by number of slaves Fewer than 4% had more than 20 slaves
Plantation Owners
Fixed Costs – regular costs to run the plantation Credit—form of loan Many were in debt Wives
In charge of watching over enslaved workers Difficult lonely life
Domestic Slaves – house work Blacksmiths, carpenters, shoemakers, or weavers…small towns..
Slavery
Family Life No protection for families Extended family (important)
Slave codes
Laws for enslaved people Cannot teach to read or write Cannot assemble in large groups
Escaping Slavery
Underground railroad Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglas (abolitionists)
Underground Railroad
Network of routes to the North “Follow the Drinking Gourd” Hide in houses, barns, under wagons Opposition in the North
Many whites still disliked the idea South
Said they treated slaves well Gave them food, clothes, living quarters