Ch. 11 Cotton, Slavery, & the Old South

1. Ch. 11 Cotton, Slavery, & the Old South

2. “From the rattle with which the nurse tickles the ear of the child born in the South to the shroud that covers the cold form of the dead, everything comes to us from the North.” 1) Interpret the meaning behind this quote. Bell Ringer

3. Decline in other crops 1)Tobacco- Exhausts soil, unstable 2)Rice- Long growing seasons 3)Sugar- Expensive, lots of competition 4) Long-staple cotton- Growth in certain areas Solution: Short-Staple Cotton *Grow in variety of climates and soils Cotton becomes known as: King of the South King Cotton

4. Cotton production explodes Cotton production moves to Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, etc… Cotton $200 mill vs. Rice $2 mill annually -Send most of it to Britain “Cotton is King” Popular in the “lower south” or “Deep South” Cotton spreads westward

5. Huge growth in slavery results from the increase in cotton production. p.299 Inc cotton = Inc slavery

6. Weak manufacturing sector Brokers were known as “factors” Basic financial system limits the south. Most financing through the planters Poor Transportation system (few canals, railroads, telegraph systems) Southern Trade and Industry

7. This magazine stated “I think it would be safe to estimate the amount which is lost to us annually by our vassalage to the North at $100,000,000. Debow’s Review

8. Why didn’t the South grow industrially? Why not grow industrially?

9. North turned to industry for income -South had agriculture. Southern investors put almost all of their $ into land and slaves Poor climate for industry Cultural reasons Reasons for lack of industrial growth

10. Few whites actually owned slaves Even fewer owned large plantations Planter Aristocracy- So wealthy and powerful, they control the south politically, economically, etc… Planters not “cavalier”, had to manage their plantation very wisely. White’s in the South

11. Honor- Dueling Southern Lady- Similar to middle class northern women Paternalism: Submit to husband Birthrate stayed higher in the south. Code of ethic

12. Most southerners were just simple farmers Owned few slaves Horrible education system “hill people” live in the Appalachian “cracker” – non-landing owning whites *Poor tied to Planters? Why?? The “plain Folk”

13. From childhood, the one thing in their condition which has made life valuable to the mass of whites has been that the niggers are yet their inferiors.” What does this mean? What keeps whites content?

14. “Peculiar Institution”- Distinctive or special -Continually had to defend slavery Kept the south isolated Increased isolation = increased dependence on slavery. The Institution of slavery

15. Establish slave codes Slaves could not… -hold property -leave master’s premises without permission -be out after dark -carry firearm -congregate except for church -strike a white person, even in self-defense -learn to read or write -testify in court against whites -marry or divorce Enforcement was inconsistent Varieties of slavery

16. Two Main Methods 1)Assigned a task in the morning and free after the task was complete 2) Gang system- Divided in groups and worked for as long as the overseer wanted. They were led by the “driver” Slave Work day

17. Less physical work More detrimental mentally Sexual Abuse was common House Slaves

18. Domestic trade- Slaves would be sold state to state like cattle. Very Dehuminizing Slave Trade

19. “Sambo”- Smiling, head-scratching, do what whites want slave. Slave rebel- Revolt or resist whites Two types of slaves

20. Work slowdowns, sabotage, escape, & revolt Uprisings: - Charlestown- Denmark Vesey in 1822 -Viriginia- Nat Turner in 1831- Killed 60 whites Quickly put down Gave hope to slaves Tightened slave codes. Resistance:

21. African-American Religion Family Language Music Marriages Etc… Slave Culture