The South and the Slavery Controversy Chapter 16.

The South and the Slavery

ControversyChapter 16

1791: 4,000 bales of cotton are produced1849: 2, 246, 900 bales of cotton are produced

6 cents a lb. to 14 cents in 1857

Expanded into Arkansas and Texas

Crop increase: 2,500,000 bales in 1850 to 5,300,000 in 1860Crop Value: In 1800, $8 million: In 1860, $250 million

The invention which changed

the South, cotton and

slavery.

The invention which changed

the South, cotton and

slavery.

Whitney Ends the Fiber Famine

• Cotton gin invented in 1793– 50 times more effective than hand picking

• Raising cotton more profitable– South needs slavery more than ever for “King Cotton”

New England factories flourish with Southern cotton

Cotton Gin

Increased exports for the SouthPlanters became rich

Increased demand for slaves

Effects

Slaves Using the Cotton Slaves Using the Cotton GinGin

Slaves Using the Cotton Slaves Using the Cotton GinGin

•Total U.S. population

was 3.5 million…

•700,000 slaves in the U.S. at this

time.

•Still bought slaves

through the slave trade.

•Total U.S. population was 18

million

•2 million slaves in the U.S. at this time.

•1808, importation of slaves was illegal

•Slave trade within the U.S.

•Increase of slave population was

from natural reproduction

33 million U.S. population, 4 million slaves in the South

Map Crops in South

COTTON COTTON BELTBELT, Cotton , Cotton

KingdomKingdom

•Southern society was Southern society was similar to a similar to a Feudal systemFeudal system

that existed in Europe that existed in Europe during the Dark and Middle during the Dark and Middle Ages…..(Ages…..(Manorial System)Manorial System)

•Caste system:Caste system: difficult to difficult to move up the social ladder.move up the social ladder.

•Based on white supremacy Based on white supremacy and the slave was inferior.and the slave was inferior.

Plantation Plantation owners owners

AristocracyAristocracyMiddle Middle ClassClassSmall Small

farmersfarmersPoor Poor

WhitesWhites

Free Blacks, 2Free Blacks, 2ndnd class citizens class citizens

Slaves---no rights, considered Slaves---no rights, considered propertyproperty

No No political political or civil or civil rights.rights.

Upper Upper classclass

Owned some Owned some slaves. Achieve slaves. Achieve

American American DreamDream

Owned no Owned no slaves….Hated white slaves….Hated white

upper class…upper class…American American DreamDream

Characteristics Characteristics of the of the

Antebellum Antebellum SouthSouth

Characteristics Characteristics of the of the

Antebellum Antebellum SouthSouth

1.1. Primarily agrarian.Primarily agrarian.

2.2. Economic power shifted from the Economic power shifted from the “upper South” to the “lower South.”“upper South” to the “lower South.”

3.3. ““Cotton Is King!”Cotton Is King!” * 1860--> 5 mil. bales a yr. * 1860--> 5 mil. bales a yr. (57% of total US exports). (57% of total US exports).

4.4. Very slow development of Very slow development of industrialization.industrialization.

5.5. Rudimentary financial system.Rudimentary financial system.

6.6. Inadequate transportation system.Inadequate transportation system.

•At the Constitutional Convention At the Constitutional Convention •3/5’s Compromise3/5’s Compromise•1807, imported slaves was abolished in the U.S.1807, imported slaves was abolished in the U.S.•Fugitive Slave LawFugitive Slave Law

•90% of Europe’s cotton came from the South by 186090% of Europe’s cotton came from the South by 1860•1/2 of U.S. exports were from cotton1/2 of U.S. exports were from cotton•More money invested in slaves than land and tools---$2 More money invested in slaves than land and tools---$2 billionbillion

Conditions on a slave ship were horrible. This was called the Middle Passage.

Conditions on a slave ship were horrible. This was called the Middle Passage.

•The more slaves you had, the greater your social status

•2/3’s of presidents since independence were slaveowners

•Majority of Supreme Court justices were from the South

•More millionaires in the South than the NorthMore millionaires in the South than the North

•75% of the cotton harvest was done by 75% of the cotton harvest was done by plantations with10 or more slaves.plantations with10 or more slaves.

•Slave population grew from natural reproductionSlave population grew from natural reproduction•There was a slave trade within the U.S.There was a slave trade within the U.S.

Facts on slavery

Slaves being Slaves being sold at an sold at an

auction was auction was prevalent prevalent

throughout the throughout the Southern U.S. Southern U.S. right up to the right up to the

Civil War.Civil War.

•No political or civil rights to No political or civil rights to protect slavesprotect slaves

•U.S. was the largest slave U.S. was the largest slave institution in the world by institution in the world by

18601860

•U.S. produced 7/8’s of U.S. produced 7/8’s of world’s cotton supplyworld’s cotton supply

•Peculiar Institution, to own Peculiar Institution, to own another human being is another human being is

immoral.immoral.

•Cotton is King/King CottonCotton is King/King Cotton

•South was not willing to South was not willing to changechange

•Always felt isolated and Always felt isolated and threatened from the rest of threatened from the rest of

the U.S.the U.S.

Chart/Net Earnings

42%

45%

50%

55%

55%

56%

56%

65%

70%

74%5

7%

55% 47%

44%

44%

44%

39%

33%

30%

26%

1%

3%

1%

1%

5%

3%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

White Black Free % of White to Black Population in % of White to Black Population in 18601860

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1 2+ 5+ 10+ 20+ 50+

Non Slaveholders SlaveholdersChart: Total Deaths

About 1,150,000 About 1,150,000 Southern white families Southern white families owned no slaves---75%owned no slaves---75%

About 384,000 Southern About 384,000 Southern white families owned 1 white families owned 1

slave or more---25%slave or more---25%

Total of 1,534,000 Southern white families in 1860……A total population of 7,981,000….

Total of 1,534,000 Southern white families in 1860……A total population of 7,981,000….

(Number of slaves)(Number of slaves)

%%

•Statistically Statistically only 25% of only 25% of

Southern Southern families families

owned slavesowned slaves

•384,000 384,000 Southern Southern families families

owned 1 or owned 1 or more slaves.more slaves.

•75% of 75% of Southern Southern

families did families did not own not own slaves.slaves.

Chart/slave owners

•Out of the 25% of slaveowners, here

is the breakdown of the number of

slaves.

•75% owned 1 to 9 slaves.

•22% owned 10 to 49 owned slaves.

•3% owned 50 or more slaves.

384,000384,000

1860

Slave MasterBrands

Slave AccoutrementsSlave AccoutrementsSlave AccoutrementsSlave Accoutrements

Slave muzzle

Slave tag, SC

Slave AccoutrementsSlave AccoutrementsSlave AccoutrementsSlave Accoutrements

Slave leg irons

Slave shoes

Slaves Slaves posing in posing in front of front of

their cabin their cabin on a on a

Southern Southern plantation.plantation.

Slaves Slaves posing in posing in front of front of

their cabin their cabin on a on a

Southern Southern plantation.plantation.

Slave ResistanceSlave ResistanceSlave ResistanceSlave Resistance1. “SAMBO” pattern of behavior used as

a charade in front of whites [the innocent, laughing black man caricature – bulging eyes, thick lips, big smile, etc.].

Slave ResistanceSlave ResistanceSlave ResistanceSlave Resistance2. Refusal to work hard.

3.Isolated acts of sabotage, incl. destroying equipment and poisoning the master’s food.

4.Escape via the Underground Railroad.

Runaway Slave AdsRunaway Slave AdsRunaway Slave AdsRunaway Slave Ads

Quilt Patterns as Secret Quilt Patterns as Secret MessagesMessages

Quilt Patterns as Secret Quilt Patterns as Secret MessagesMessages

The Monkey Wrench pattern, on the left, alerted escapees to gather up tools and prepare to flee; the Drunkard Path design, on the right, warned escapees not to follow a straight route.

•Slaves resorted to revolts in the Slaves resorted to revolts in the 13 colonies and later in the 13 colonies and later in the

southern U.S.southern U.S.

• 250 insurrections250 insurrections have been have been documented; between documented; between 1780 and 1780 and

18641864..

•91 African-Americans were 91 African-Americans were convicted of insurrection in convicted of insurrection in

Virginia alone. Virginia alone.

•First revolt in what became the First revolt in what became the United States took place in 1526 United States took place in 1526 at a Spanish settlement near the at a Spanish settlement near the

mouth of the Pee Dee River in mouth of the Pee Dee River in South Carolina. South Carolina.

Gabriel ProsserGabriel Prosser, (1776-1800), American leader of an aborted slave uprising, whose intention was to

create a free black state in Virginia. Born near Richmond, he was the son of an African mother

who instilled in him the love of freedom. Inspired perhaps by the success of the black revolutionaries of Haiti, he plotted with other slaves, notably Jack Bowler, in the spring of 1800 to seize the arsenal at Richmond and kill whites. On August 30, 1800August 30, 1800, as many as 1000 armed slaves gathered outside

Richmond ready for action. A torrential downpour and thunderstorm, however, washed away a bridge

vital to the insurrectionists' march; at the same time Governor James MonroeGovernor James Monroe, the future president, was informed of the plot and dispatched the state militia against them. Prosser and some 35 of his Prosser and some 35 of his

young comrades were captured and hanged.young comrades were captured and hanged.

The leader of an American slave revolt in Charleston, S.C., Denmark Vesey, b. Africa, 1767, d. July 2, 1822, had been owned by a slave-ship captain before he purchased his freedom (1800) with

$600 won in a street lottery. As a freedman in Charleston, he worked at

carpentry, became a leader of his church, and read antislavery

literature. Determined to strike a blow against the institution that had

victimized him, he devised an intricate conspiracy for an uprising in

Charleston and vicinity during the summer of 1822. Informers divulged

the plot, however, and 35 blacks, including Vesey, were executed.

Nat Turner RebellionNat Turner Rebellion

Nat TurnerNat Turner,, a slave owned by Joseph Travis of Southampton, Virginia, believed that he

had been chosen by God to lead a slave rebellion. On 21st August, 1831,21st August, 1831, Turner and

seven fellow slaves, murdered Travis and his family. Over the next two days and

nights, Turner's band killed around 60 white people in Virginia. Turner had hoped that this action would cause a massive slave uprising but only 75 joined his rebellion. Over 3,000 members of the state militia

were sent to deal with Turner's gang, and they were soon defeated. In retaliation,

more than a hundred innocent slaves were killed. Turner went into hiding but was

captured six weeks later. Nat Turner was Nat Turner was executed on 11th November, 1831.executed on 11th November, 1831.

Nat Turner Nat Turner RebellionRebellion

Arrest of Nat Arrest of Nat TurnerTurner

Tree Nat Tree Nat Turner was Turner was

hung onhung on

Slave Revolts/Turner

Slave Revolts

Slave Revolts would lead Slave Revolts would lead plantation owners to develop a plantation owners to develop a

series of series of slave laws/codesslave laws/codes which which restricted the movement of the restricted the movement of the

slaves.slaves.•Slaves were not taught to read or writeSlaves were not taught to read or write

•Restricted to the plantationRestricted to the plantation•Slaves could not congregate after darkSlaves could not congregate after dark

•Slaves could not possess any type of firearmSlaves could not possess any type of firearm•A larger slave plantation than white in some A larger slave plantation than white in some

statesstates

Slave owners wanted to keep Slave owners wanted to keep their slaves ignorant of the their slaves ignorant of the

outside world because learning outside world because learning about life beyond the plantation about life beyond the plantation could lead to more slave revolts could lead to more slave revolts

and wanting to escape.and wanting to escape.

Slave Laws

Slave Codes of the State of Georgia, 1848

SEC. I. CAPITAL OFFENSES.SEC. I. CAPITAL OFFENSES.

1. Capital crimes when punished with 1. Capital crimes when punished with death.death.

The following shall be considered as capital offences, when committed by a slave or free person of color: insurrection, or an attempt to

excite it; committing a rape, or attempting it on a free white female; murder of a free white

person, or murder of a slave or free person of color, or poisoning of a human being; every and each of these offences shall, on conviction, be

punished with death.

Georgia Slave Code, 1848Georgia Slave Code, 1848

2. Punishment of free persons of color 2. Punishment of free persons of color for encouraging slavesfor encouraging slaves.

If any free person of color commits the offence of encouraging or enticing away any slave or slaves, for the purpose of, and with the intention to aid

and assist such slave or slaves leaving the service of his or their owner or owners, or in

going to another state, such person so offending shall, for each and every such offence, on

conviction, be confined in the penitentiary at hard labor for one year.

Georgia Slave Code, 1848 Georgia Slave Code, 1848

3. Punishment for teaching slaves or 3. Punishment for teaching slaves or free persons of color to read.free persons of color to read.

If any slave, Negro, or free person of color, or any white person, shall teach any other slave, Negro,

or free person of color, to read or write either written or printed characters, the said free person

of color or slave shall be punished by fine and whipping, or fine or whipping, at the discretion of

the court.

Abolitionist Movement

Abolitionist Movement 1816 American Colonization Society

created (gradual, voluntary emancipation.

British Colonization Society symbol

Abolitionist MovementAbolitionist Movement Create a free slave state in Liberia,

WestAfrica.

No real anti-slavery sentiment in the North in the 1820s & 1830s.

Gradualists Immediatists

Anti-Slavery Alphabet

Anti-Slavery Alphabet

Anti-Slavery PamphletAnti-Slavery PamphletAnti-Slavery PamphletAnti-Slavery Pamphlet

•Abolitionists believed slavery was immoral…..Peculiar institution or it is odd, strange or weird to own another human being.

•Abolitionists argued slavery was immoral because it violated the ideals that this country was founded on.

•All men are created equal (DOI)•If the U.S. was to succeed as a democratic society, slavery had to be abolished

Abolitionists

Abolitionism: Division and Opposition

Abolitionism: Division and Opposition

Abolitionism forced the churches to face the question of slavery head-on, and in the 1840s the Methodist and Baptist churches each split into northern and

southern organizations over the issue of slavery

Even the abolitionists themselves splintered

More conservative reformers wanted to work within established institutions,

using churches and political action to end slavery

Abolitionism forced the churches to face the question of slavery head-on, and in the 1840s the Methodist and Baptist churches each split into northern and

southern organizations over the issue of slavery

Even the abolitionists themselves splintered

More conservative reformers wanted to work within established institutions,

using churches and political action to end slavery

William Lloyd Garrison (1801-1879)

William Lloyd Garrison (1801-1879) Slavery & Masonry

undermined republicanvalues.

Immediate emancipation with NO compensation.

Slavery was a moral, notan economic, issue.

R2-4

Picture/Garrison

•Through his newspaper, The Liberator, William Lloyd Garrison spoke out against

slavery and for the rights of black Americans for 35 years. The tone of the paper was

established in the first issue of the paper with Garrison's editorial entitled, "To the Public,”

“On this subject, I do not wish to think, or speak, or write, with moderation. No! no! Tell a

man whose house is on fire, to give a moderate alarm; tell him to moderately rescue his wife from the hand of the ravisher; tell the mother to gradually extricate her babe from

the fire into which it has fallen; -- but urge me not to use moderation in a cause like the

present. I am in earnest -- I will not equivocate -- I will not excuse -- I will not retreat a single

inch -- AND I WILL BE HEARD”.

Garrison, a leader among American

abolitionists, delivered his views

with great conviction, as well as great foresight.

"Posterity," he concluded in the

editorial, "will bear testimony that I

was right.”

The LiberatorThe Liberator

Premiere issue January 1, 1831

R2-5

Picture/Douglass

Frederick Douglass•Escaped slave in 1838

•Mother was a slave and father was white

•Great speaker against slavery

•Bought his freedom for $600.00

•Wrote his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of

Frederick Douglass

•Editor of the North Star--Abolitionist paper

•Friends with Garrison

•Organized the 54th Black Regiment of Mass

Frederick Douglass•Escaped slave in 1838

•Mother was a slave and father was white

•Great speaker against slavery

•Bought his freedom for $600.00

•Wrote his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of

Frederick Douglass

•Editor of the North Star--Abolitionist paper

•Friends with Garrison

•Organized the 54th Black Regiment of Mass

Reading/On Douglass

After hearing Frederick Douglass speak in Bristol, England, in 1846, Mary A.

Estlin wrote to an American abolitionist:

“There is but one opinion of him. Wherever he goes he arouses

sympathy in your cause and love for himself…..Our expectations were

highly roused by his narrative, his printed speeches, and the eulogisms

of the friends with whom he has been staying: but he far exceeds the picture we had formed both in

outward graces, intellectual power and culture and eloquence.”

Sojourner Truth (1787-1883)

or Isabella Baumfree

Sojourner Truth (1787-1883)

or Isabella Baumfree

1850 The Narrative of Sojourner Truth R2-10

Harriet Tubman(1820-1913)Harriet Tubman(1820-1913) Helped over 300

slaves to freedom. $40,000 bounty on

her head. Served as a Union

spy during the Civil War.

“Moses”

Picture/Stowe

•Harriet Beecher Stowe, Abolitionist, authored the book Uncle Tom’s Cabin

•Book was used as propaganda to

show the inhumanity of

slavery.

•Southerners were enraged by this

book and called it “lies”.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

1852

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

1852 Sold 300,000

copies inthe first year.

2 million in a decade!

Sold 300,000 copies inthe first year.

2 million in a decade!

Reading/Tom’s Cabin

In the closing scenes of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel, Uncle Tom’s brutal master, Simon Legree, orders the

$1200.00 slave savagely beaten (to death) by two fellow slaves. Through tears and blood Tom exclaims,

“No! no! no! my soul ain’t yours Mas’r! You haven’t bought it-----ye can’t buy it! It’s been

bought and paid for by One that is able to keep it. No matter, no matter, you can’t harm me!” “I can’t” said Legree, with a sneer; “we’ll see----we’ll see! Here, Sambo, Quimbo, give this dog

such a breakin’ in as he won’t get over this month!”

Economically profitable

Slavery was in the Bible

Duty of Southerners to Christianize the slaves, Positive Good

Provided a better life for slaves than in Africa, Positive Good

5th Amendment legalized and protected slavery because slaves were considered property.

Southern Pro-SlaverySouthern Pro-SlaveryPropagandaPropaganda

Southern Pro-SlaverySouthern Pro-SlaveryPropagandaPropaganda

•Gag ruleGag rule was passed in Congress which nothing

concerning slavery could be discussed.

•Under the gag rulegag rule, anti-anti-slavery petitionsslavery petitions were

not read on the floor of Congress

•The rule was renewed in each Congress between

1837 and 1839.

•In 1840 the House passed an even stricter rule, which refused to which refused to accept all anti-slavery accept all anti-slavery petitions.petitions. On Dec 3,

1844, the gag rule was repealed

1. SOUTHERN SLAVERY THE PECULIAR INSTITUTION Prior to 1791 slavery was not profitable

Cotton Gin----Eli Whitney---1791 South relied on cotton and slaves. Cotton production doubles every 10 years

King Cotton

2. Southern society3. Facts on Slavery

4. Why did the South fight a war to preserve slavery when ¾ of Southerner’s did not own slaves?

American Dream

5. SOCIAL OUTCRY AGAINST SLAVERYRise of abolitionists----1830 to 1860

William Lloyd GarrisonFrederick DouglassHarriet TubmanHarriet Beecher Stowe

Arguments For slavery Against slavery

6. Did slaves revolt against slavery?Slave revolts Slave codes