The Peculiar Institution

1. The Peculiar Institution Chapter 11

2. The Icon of Frederick Douglass

3. The Old South & Cotton • The Mason-Dixon Line • Eve of Civil War – slave population was 4 million • Between 1/3 to ½ of population in south • British abolished slavery in 1833 • “White Gold” created largest slavery society in history • ¾ of world’s cotton supply • Cotton was ½ of total value of exports • Slavery investment exceed factories, railroads and banks

4. Slavery, Economy, & The Nation • “importing” still done in lower South • Selling at public slave markets or courthouses (2 million) • Determined location, work, civil liberties for all • North benefited from cotton production (trade) • “Lords of the Loom” and “Lords of the Lash” • Southern cities were financial – loan to buy slaves/land • Short railway lines • New Orleans leading exporter of slave crops (40% of pop. were immigrants • South produced only 10% manufactured goods

5. 1820 1860

6. Cotton Exports

7. Southern Society • 3 of 4 white southerners did NOT own slaves • Most lived in hilly areas on poor land • Desperately poor, self-sufficient • No market for manufactured goods  no need for industry • Why support Planters’ cause to save slavery? •  shared racism and kinship •  shared loyalty to South in face of criticism •  apart of the system – returning runaways

8. Planter Class • Less than 40,000 owned +20 slaves that made them “planters” • Controlled politics and public life • Owning slaves = wealth, status, influence • Held most land (15,000 acres), had highest income, and dominated govt • Slave price – about $40,000 today • Often invested in industry • “Plantation mistress” – cared for sick, ran house, directed servants • Took summer vacations • “Paternalism”: idea that master had to care for dependents, act as protector, counselor, provide care  masked and justified brutality  few tried to “improve” slaves • “A man loves his children because they are weak, helpless, and dependent. He loves his wife for similar reasons.”

9. Proslavery • “most safe and stable basis for free institutions in the world” • White Supremacy: belief that blacks were innately inferior to whites and unsuited for free life • Used bible passages, referred to ancient Greece & Rome • Need it to cultivate arts & sciences • Best way to have equality for whites  better than wage labor in North • Slavery keeps whites independent which is necessary for citizenship

10. Slavery, Liberty, and Civilization • Claimed the DOI was a “dangerous political error” • Freedom was a privilege not an entitlement • Obedience was a “fundamental law” to human existence George Fitzhugh • In history slavery was “normal and natural” – liberty is an experiment • Slavery – “community of interest” • Slaves are “the happiest, freest people in the world” • Writers, editors, politicians, clergy in South supported system

11. Slaves and the Law • Few rights • Illegal to kill a slave except in self-defense • Accused slaves were given a day in court with white judges/juries • Could be sold/leased at any time • No voice in govt, could not testify, sign contracts, own property/firearms, hold unsupervised meetings, or travel. • It was illegal to teach a slave to read/write • Enforcement depended on owners • Alabama – every life choice was judged by master • Missouri – Celia’s case  declared Celia was not a woman but a “slave”  sentenced to death  postponed so the owner would not be deprived of new “property”

15. Conditions of Life & Free Blacks • Some had laws ensuring proper treatment • Could have their own “mini-farm” or stole from plantation • Paternalism and growing price made it more logical to keep slaves healthy • Strict laws on voluntary emancipation • 500,000 free mostly in South – little differences • Could not… act in public or own dogs, weapons, liquor hit a white person even in self-defense testify in court or serve on juries • had to carry a certificate of freedom • if they needed public aid they had to labor for it • Many states expelled free blacks

16. Early Emancipation

17. Upper & Lower South • Lower South – very few freemen • Mixed communities in New Orleans, Charleston • Some of mixed race became slave owners • Many became educated skilled craftsmen • Elite blacks tried to maintain separation • Many worked in upper south as farm laborers (many worked with slaves) • Many purchased their wives/children but could not free them (had to leave the state)

20. Slave Labor • Diverse jobs – butlers, waitresses, nurse, gardener, carpenters, engineers, cooks, weavers • Cut wood, tended docks, laid railways, build govt buildings • 200,000 worked in industry • Skilled and unskilled in lower south – many rented slaves • 75% of women 90% of men worked in fields • “Overseer” – extreme brutality, “gang labor” • Rice plantations – self-run, leisure time (malaria) • City slaves – more domestic jobs, could “hire their own time” • Harsh punishment at mercy of owner • Exploited divisions in field/house hands, incentive systems • Threat of sale

22. Working in a sugar-boiling house

23. Slave Culture & Family created family & religious centered communities, strong music/dance own system of herbal medicine law did not recognize slave marriage, but population naturally increased named children after relatives sale of slaves made women heads of house more common 10% of teens were sold in upper south some allowed marriage, others only cared if children were able to work “equality of powerlessness” men could not protect wives/children more traditional roles in places where they had free time

24. Religion & Liberty Usually Baptist or Methodist most plantations had their own black preacher (not educated) some had biracial congregations free blacks in North est. their own churches Used preaching as a form of social control over slaves secret nigh time gathering, “praise meetings” Slaves identified themselves with the chosen people, God would free in time glorified folklore that had the weak outsmarting the strong constant them of drive for freedom

25. Resistance day to day was most common – “silent resistance” – breaking tools, disrupting routine, abusing animals faked illness, stole food arson, poisoning, armed assault Fugitives – little knowledge of land, use of North Star, 1,000 per year Sometimes headed South to blend with free communities Everglades – protection from Seminoles only 25% tried to reach North Underground RR, Harriet Tubman (Maryland) – made 20 trips back

27. The Amistad 1839, 53 slaves took control of the ship and tried to force it to Africa was seized off the coast of Long Island by an American vessel JQA, supreme court justice, declared them free as they were taken from Africa in violation of the slave trade laws inspired other revolts The Creole, seized by 135 slaves in 1841 and forced to the British Bahamas where they were given refuge

28. Slave Revolts 200-500 men and women outside of New Orleans used knives, axes, guns, clubs, marched toward city destroying property intercepted by militia, 66 killed, remaining executed 1822 Denmark Vesey – preached the bible did not support slavery Vesey rebuked blacks who gave way to walking whites

29. Nat Turner’s Rebellion Preacher from Virginia, claimed a vision from God Aug. 22, 1831, 80 joined Marched town to town assaulting white women/children (60 killed) Turner captured and with 17 others killed Regret? “Was not Christ crucified?” Panic resulted, many beaten or executed Questioned whether slavery should be ended 1832 harsher laws, prohibited preaching, owning firearms, and reading Huge repression of free speech of abolitionists