Ch.12 – The South

1. Ch.12 – The South Section 2- Southern Society Southern Society & Culture Free African American & Discrimination • Only about 1/3 of southern white families had slaves • A small group of planters had great influence over the South • Planters led a society of yeomen farmers, poor whites, slaves, & free African Americans • Although most were enslaved, there were about 250,000 free African Americans in South • Some free blacks may have been freed by owners or earned enough to buy freedom • Most freed African Americans lived in rural areas & worked a paid laborers on plantations • Most in the cities worked as skilled artisans • Churches often served as center of social lives • Many governments passed laws limiting rights of freed blacks • Freedmen could not vote, travel freely, or hold certain jobs • Many southerners argued that free African Americans could not take care of themselves • To many white southerners – free blacks threatened slavery Yeomen & Poor Whites Religion & Society Planters Urban Life Planters were wealthiest southerners, greatly influenced economy Most white southerners shared religious beliefs-saw neighbors at church events Largest & most important cities on Atlantic coast-for shipping-had fewer cities than North Yeomen owned small farms & had few if any slaves-family worked long hours Planters focused on crops & slaves in fields, wives handled house & servants Poorest white southerners survived by hunting, fishing, & doing odd jobs Wealthy white southerners felt religion justified position & slavery in society Like plantations, slaves did most of work in cities. They worked as servants, in mills, & shipyards

2. Ch.12 – The South Section 2- Southern Society Southern Society & Culture • Only about 1/3 of southern white families had slaves • A small group of planters had great influence over the South • Planters led a society of yeomen farmers, poor whites, slaves, & free African Americans • Only about 1/3 of southern white families had slaves • A small group of planters had great influence over the South • Planters led a society of yeomen farmers, poor whites, slaves, & free African Americans Percentage of Southern Whites who owned slaves. Each dot represent 1% of the Southern population. Red dots equal percent of people who owned 10 or more slave. The yellow dots are people who owned 1 to 9 slaves and the green dots owned no slaves.

3. Ch.12 – The South Section 2- Southern Society Southern Whites who owned slaves Red = 10 or more slaves owned (7%) Yellow = 1-9 slaves owned (17%) Green = Owned no slaves (76%)

4. Ch.12 – The South Section 2- Southern Society Southern Society & Culture • Only about 1/3 of southern white families had slaves • A small group of planters had great influence over the South • Planters led a society of yeomen farmers, poor whites, slaves, & free African Americans Planters Planters Planters were wealthiest southerners, greatly influenced economy Wealthy Southern planters built enormous beautiful plantation homes. Planters were wealthiest southerners, greatly influenced economy

5. Ch.12 – The South Section 2- Southern Society Southern Society & Culture • Only about 1/3 of southern white families had slaves • A small group of planters had great influence over the South • Planters led a society of yeomen farmers, poor whites, slaves, & free African Americans Planters Field slaves worked long hard hours in the humid conditions of the South. Even pregnant female slaves were required to work a full day right up until they gave birth. Planters were wealthiest southerners, greatly influenced economy Planters focused on crops & slaves in fields, wives handled house & servants Planters focused on crops & slaves in fields, wives handled house & servants

6. Ch.12 – The South Section 2- Southern Society This is a Washington family portrait. Notice the attire of the servant to the right. Not like the field slave.

7. Ch.12 – The South Section 2- Southern Society Southern Society & Culture Yeoman farmer • Only about 1/3 of southern white families had slaves • A small group of planters had great influence over the South • Planters led a society of yeomen farmers, poor whites, slaves, & free African Americans Yeomen & Poor Whites Yeomen & Poor Whites Small yeomen farm Yeomen owned small farms & had few if any slaves-family worked long hours Yeomen owned small farms & had few if any slaves-family worked long hours

8. Ch.12 – The South Section 2- Southern Society Southern Society & Culture • Only about 1/3 of southern white families had slaves • A small group of planters had great influence over the South • Planters led a society of yeomen farmers, poor whites, slaves, & free African Americans Yeomen & Poor Whites Yeomen owned small farms & had few if any slaves-family worked long hours Poorest white southerners survived by hunting, fishing, & doing odd jobs Poorest white southerners survived by hunting, fishing, & doing odd jobs

9. Ch.12 – The South Section 2- Southern Society Southern Society & Culture • Only about 1/3 of southern white families had slaves • A small group of planters had great influence over the South • Planters led a society of yeomen farmers, poor whites, slaves, & free African Americans Religion & Society Religion & Society Most white southerners shared religious beliefs-saw neighbors at church events Most white southerners shared religious beliefs-saw neighbors at church events

10. Ch.12 – The South Section 2- Southern Society Because plantations were so far from each other, southerners socialized at church services or revivals.

11. Ch.12 – The South Section 2- Southern Society Southern Society & Culture • Only about 1/3 of southern white families had slaves • A small group of planters had great influence over the South • Planters led a society of yeomen farmers, poor whites, slaves, & free African Americans Religion & Society Most white southerners shared religious beliefs-saw neighbors at church events Southerners justified slavery with the idea that Africans Americans would not be able to care for themselves if they were set free. Wealthy white southerners felt religion justified position & slavery in society Wealthy white southerners felt religion justified position & slavery in society

12. Ch.12 – The South Section 2- Southern Society Southern Society & Culture • Only about 1/3 of southern white families had slaves • A small group of planters had great influence over the South • Planters led a society of yeomen farmers, poor whites, slaves, & free African Americans Urban Life Urban Life Largest & most important cities on Atlantic coast-for shipping-had fewer cities than North Largest & most important cities on Atlantic coast-for shipping-had fewer cities than North

13. Ch.12 – The South Section 2- Southern Society Southern coastal city of Charleston, South Carolina

14. Ch.12 – The South Section 2- Southern Society Southern Society & Culture • Only about 1/3 of southern white families had slaves • A small group of planters had great influence over the South • Planters led a society of yeomen farmers, poor whites, slaves, & free African Americans Urban Life Largest & most important cities on Atlantic coast-for shipping-had fewer cities than North Like plantations, slaves did most of work in cities. They worked as servants, in mills, & shipyards Like plantations, slaves did most of work in cities. They worked as servants, in mills, & shipyards

15. Ch.12 – The South Section 2- Southern Society Free African American & Discrimination • Although most were enslaved, there were about 250,000 free African Americans in South • Some free blacks may have been freed by owners or earned enough to buy freedom • Most freed African Americans lived in rural areas & worked a paid laborers on plantations • Most in the cities worked as skilled artisans • Churches often served as center of social lives • Many governments passed laws limiting rights of freed blacks • Freedmen could not vote, travel freely, or hold certain jobs • Many southerners argued that free African Americans could not take care of themselves • To many white southerners – free blacks threatened slavery • Although most were enslaved, there were about 250,000 free African Americans in South • Some free blacks may have been freed by owners or earned enough to buy freedom • Most freed African Americans lived in rural areas & worked a paid laborers on plantations • Most in the cities worked as skilled artisans • Churches often served as center of social lives • Many governments passed laws limiting rights of freed blacks • Freedmen could not vote, travel freely, or hold certain jobs • Many southerners argued that free African Americans could not take care of themselves • To many white southerners – free blacks threatened slavery Things for quiz: Cotton Gin, Cotton Boom, Tredegar Iron Works, Planters, yeomen, & Free blacks

16. Ch.12 – The South Section 2- Southern Society Southern Society & Culture Free African American & Discrimination • Only about 1/3 of southern white families had slaves • A small group of planters had great influence over the South • Planters led a society of yeomen farmers, poor whites, slaves, & free African Americans • Although most were enslaved, there were about 250,000 free African Americans in South • Some free blacks may have been freed by owners or earned enough to buy freedom • Most freed African Americans lived in rural areas & worked a paid laborers on plantations • Most in the cities worked as skilled artisans • Churches often served as center of social lives • Many governments passed laws limiting rights of freed blacks • Freedmen could not vote, travel freely, or hold certain jobs • Many southerners argued that free African Americans could not take care of themselves • To many white southerners – free blacks threatened slavery Yeomen & Poor Whites Religion & Society Planters Urban Life Planters were wealthiest southerners, greatly influenced economy Most white southerners shared religious beliefs-saw neighbors at church events Largest & most important cities on Atlantic coast-for shipping-had fewer cities than North Yeomen owned small farms & had few if any slaves-family worked long hours Planters focused on crops & slaves in fields, wives handled house & servants Poorest white southerners survived by hunting, fishing, & doing odd jobs Wealthy white southerners felt religion justified position & slavery in society Like plantations, slaves did most of work in cities. They worked as servants, in mills, & shipyards

17. Ch.12 – The South Section 2- Southern Society Southern Society & Culture Free African American & Discrimination