Antebellum Georgia

1. Antebellum Georgia

2. Antebellum means before the war • The war we are referring to is the Civil War.

3. King Cotton • Georgia was an agricultural state and cotton was the main cash crop. • The cotton gin invented by Eli Whitney removed seeds from the cotton. • Since seeds could be easily removed , people planted more cotton which led to a large increase in slavery. • Georgia’s economy grew during this time.

4. Slavery • The number of slaves in Georgia grew from 29,000 in 1790 to 462,000 in 1860. • Slaves were bound by law to work for their owners. • Some slaves escaped through the Underground Railroad. • Most slaves resisted by working slowly, doing just enough work to get by, pretending illness, vandalizing property, and theft.

5. Lifestyles • Planters – the wealthiest. Owned 20 or more slaves. • Yeoman Farmers – owned small farms, less than 100 acres. Some owned a few slaves. Middle Class. • Poor Whites – owned no land. • Free Blacks – made up 1% of the black population. Restrictions were placed on where they could live & they were not citizens and so had no rights under the law. • Slaves – 99% of black population

6. Education • Few public schools, most children helped work the fields. Were taught at home. • Wealthy families sent their children to private schools. • Higher education – University of Georgia & Medical College of Georgia

7. Religion • There was a Protestant religious revival in the early 1800’s which led to the rise of the Baptist & Methodist churches in Georgia. • These churches broke away from the northern churches over the issue of slavery. • Slaves attended church with their owners.

8. Ticket out the Door11-9-10 What was the relationship between agriculture, technology, and slavery in antebellum Georgia?