Slavery during the Antebellum Period

Slavery during the Antebellum Period By Tatiana Dalton and Geneva Cann

Cotton Gin • A machine that quickly separates cotton fibers from cotton seeds. This was previously done by hand, so it was a very popular and successful invention. • Invented by the American, Eli Whitney • Made the South even more dependent on slavery • Cotton became the most profitable crop • Many slaves needed to produce cotton

Slavery and the Economy of the South: • 1824, cotton cultivation in the South was tremendous and the South depended on slavery to finance their lives. • Politicians feared that abolishing slavery would destroy the South's economy • We usually picture a plantation as having hundreds of slaves on it, but in fact, three-fourths of white Southerners did not even own slaves; of those who did, 88% owned twenty or fewer!

Living Conditions of Slaves

Treatment of Antebellum-era Slaves • Slaves still thought of as property • Status maintained by violence • Even non-slaveholding southerners promoted this view of blacks • Worked as hard laborers, skilled artisans , and domestic workers • Domestic work generally preferred - however, greater scrutiny, less privacy • Women - extra task of taking care of the family, weaving, cooking, etc. • Poor conditions on plantations • Inadequate diet and living quarters • Climate difficulties - disease, infant mortality

Slave Culture • Slaves on a plantation formed a community • Marriages between slaves • After work - meetings to socialize, tell stories, make secret plans • Singing and music another form of expression • Kept their true selves away from whites, "underground" • Religion a source of inspiration • Christianity, Islam, African religions • Moses, "day of reckoning" • Parents taught children tricks of surviving in a white-dominated world • Hunting, gathering, herbal medicines to supplement diet

Nat Turner's Slave Rebellion Virginia, 1831-slaves revolted, killing whites and freeing slaves Resulted in white retaliation, killings of many blacks

Antislavery Organizations and Ante-Bellum Reform • The American Colonization Society • Sought to send freed blacks to an African colony • Proved to be inefficient • The American • Antislavery Society • Founded by • William Lloyd Garrison • The Liberator • The Liberty Party • Made up of Northerners • The party's candidate for president - James Birney • A split between abolitionists: moral crusading vs. political action

Abolitionists and Children • Abolitionists viewed children as morally pure, and therefore viewed children as natural opponents of slavery • Produced antislavery toys, games and alphabet books

Black Abolitionists Harriet Tubman, David Ruggles, Sojourner Truth, an William Still organized efforts to help fugitive slaves to freedom Frederick Douglass: antislavery journal- The North Star Violent Abolitionism Walker and Garnet: slaves should rise up, take action against their masters Other Antislavery Activists

Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad • Tubman, known as "Moses" coordinated with white families willing to house runaways • "Safe houses" were identified by a lit lantern hanging on a post outside • Journey to freedom could take from 2 months to one year

Political: • Slavery in the north had disappeared by 1820 • Ban of importation of slaves (1808) • High tariffs threaten southern cotton production (South Carolina suffered economic decline in 1820s), cotton prices were lowered • Jackson becomes president in 1828, supported the south and slavery • The North opposed Jackson, wanted to end slavery

The Amistad

Tallmadge Amendment Proposed Conditions of Admission: No further introduction of slaves into MS Children of MS slaves to be emancipated at 25 Amendment shot down by Northerners The Missouri Compromise1819-1820Missouri's bid for statehood complicated by its tolerance of slavery (Northerners opposed)Would upset sectional balance of free vs. slave statesBalance allowed Southerners to prevent unwanted legislation • Clay's Proposal(Combination of three bills) • Missouri a new slave state • Maine a new free state • No more slavery in Louisiana Territory north of latitude 36 AFTER COMPROMISE: 30 YEARS OF SECTIONAL BALANCE AND LIMITED CONFLICT OVER SLAVERY

The Compromise of 1850 THE ISSUES: • Territory gained in war with Mexico • Washington, D.C. • California - petition to become a new state THE COMPROMISE (proposed by Henry Clay): • New territories - slavery policy to be determined by inhabitants • D.C. - slave trade abolished, slavery still allowed • California - admitted as free state • Fugitive Slave Act

The Fugitive Slave Act Required citizens to participate in returning fugitive slaves to their masters • Case commissioners • Paid twice the amount if fugitive was given back to his "master" • New rules made filing a claim easier for slave owners Antislavery Northerners allowed for the passage of this act in return for the admission of California as a free state.

Anthony Burns • Slave in Virginia • Escaped to Boston, followed by master • Violence at the courthouse during hearing • Burns sent back to VA only to buy freedom

Works Cited • google.com • http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2956.html • http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trr095.html • The AMSCO AP US History Review Book • "The Enduring Vision" textbook • Living condition photographs available on Flickr • www.nationalgeographic.com/railroad/hfame.html • http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2951.html

Slavery during the Antebellum Period