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The White majority. Big Owners. In 1850, 1,733 families owned 100+ slaves 6,196 families own 50+ Made up only 2% of slave owners. Small Slave Owners. 345,000 families owned less slaves 2/3rds owned less than 10 slaves These owners were often small farmers
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Big Owners • In 1850, 1,733 families owned 100+ slaves • 6,196 families own 50+ • Made up only 2% of slave owners
Small Slave Owners • 345,000 families owned less slaves • 2/3rds owned less than 10 slaves • These owners were often small farmers • These small farmers lived humbly and worked with their slaves in the fields
Non-Owners • 6,120,825 or 3/4ths of the population owned no slaves • Tended to live in the backwoods and were not part of the cotton industry • Often subsistence farmers
Hillbillies • Non-slave holding, poor whites were often called “hillbillies,” “crackers,” and “clay eaters” • They were often mal-nurished and suffered from parasites
Slave System Defense • Non slave owning whites defended slavery because: • 1. They could possibly by slaves and become rich • 2. They believed in white superiority, so even the poor white men had a higher status than somebody
Mountain Whites • Some whites lived in the Appalachians and were secluded from society, thus retaining many British customs • They hated slaves and slave owners • Often followed the North and had a key role in ending the Southern Confederacy