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Explore the dominance of cotton & slavery in the antebellum South, economic factors & social life on plantations.
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The American Journey, Ch. 9:THE SOUTH Section 1: Southern Cotton Kingdom
Cotton Is King • In the South, people said, “Cotton is king.” • Why? • Most Southerners lived in the Upper South: Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina. • By 1850, the population spread to the Deep South: Georgia, South Carolina, Louisiana, Florida, Arkansas, and Texas.
Cotton Is King • Cotton is an extremely painful and difficult crop to harvest. • In 1793 Eli Whitney changed all that with the cotton gin, a simple machine for separating cotton from the seeds. • With easier separating came more demand for cotton, and thus more demand for slaves to pick it. • While the Upper South had other crops, too, the Deep South remained dedicated to cotton.
Southern Economy • While the North was becoming industrial and urban, the South was predominantly rural—based upon country life and agriculture. • Why? • Agriculture became profitable. • Most Southerners lacked capital—investment money—since most of their wealth was in land and slaves. • The market wasn’t as big in the South. • Many Southerners didn’t want industry.
Southern Economy • Some Southerners, like William Gregg, who opened his own North-inspired textile factory, did argue for Southern industry. • Without industry, the South was dependent upon the North for manufactured goods. • Industry would revive the Upper South’s economy. • But the South remained basically rural towns and plantations. • The only large cities were Baltimore, Charleston, and New Orleans.
Moving West • Cotton production moved west, leading to statehood for Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas. • But transportation was scarce. • Natural waterways were the primary means of transportation. • Railways were present but scarce. • As a result, Southern cities were disconnected and grew slowly.
The American Journey, Ch. 9:THE SOUTH Section 2: Life in the South
Life on Small Farms • Most farmers were not rich plantation owners. • Most were yeomen, poorer farmers who did not own slaves but did own land. • Others were tenant farmers, who owned no land but worked on rented land. • Still others lived in tiny cabins and grew food only for themselves.
Plantations • Plantation homes were nice, but the real wealth was measured in land, goods, and slaves. • The wealthiest 12% of slave-owners owned over half of all slaves! • Plantation owners worked for profit, hoping to offset fixed costs like housing and feeding workers and maintaining equipment.
Cotton Exchanges • The price of cotton rose and fell. • Planters sold their cotton to agents in big cities during cotton exchanges. • Agents gave the planters credit, a kind of loan. • During this time, agents held the cotton until the price rose, and then sold it for the highest price. • This means planters were always in debt, waiting for the agents to sell.
Life on the Plantation • Women had very little to do, and their life was boring and uneventful. • Slaves worked in the fields and in the home, but they always had an overseer, a plantation manager. • Slaves worked from sunrise to sunset, and conditions were usually harsh. • Some slave-owners were not unkind to their slaves, however. • Some free African-Americans even owned slaves, usually family members, bought just to free them.
City Life • Southern cities slowly began to expand as the railroad came in. • New Orleans was particularly important as a trading and cultural center. • Free African-Americans often were able to create their own communities. • However, they were still discriminated against and denied equal treatment.
Education in the South • Early on, only rich Southern children attended school much, usually private schools. • However, by the mid-1800’s, many public schools were open in the South. • Still, the South lagged behind the North. • Many Southerners couldn’t afford to send the kids away from working. • There were very few people per sq. mi. • Many also felt education was a private affair and government shouldn’t pay for it.
The American Journey, Ch. 9:THE SOUTH Section 3: The Peculiar Institution
Slave Family Life • Slaves could be sold and separated from family and friends at any time. • Because of this, slaves built long, strong family bonds. • Aunts, uncles, etc. could raise children if parents were taken away. • These are called extended families. • Marriages for slaves were not recognized, though they did occur. • “…until death or separation do us part…”
African-American Culture • Remember the slave trade was outlawed in 1808 by the Constitution? • No new slaves could enter the country. • Therefore, by 1860 most slaves had been born in the U.S. • How did slaves survive the life? • African culture, song, community, etc. mixed with American culture. • Christianity also mixed with native religions.
African-American Christianity • Slaves saw Christianity as a religion of hope and promise of freedom. • The spiritual, an African-American religious folk song, became popular. • “Amazing Grace,” “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” “Follow the Drinking Gourd,” etc. • Often these songs contained secret messages (“Follow the Drinking Gourd”).
Resistance and Rebellion • Slave codes were laws in slave states that controlled slaves and prevented rebellion. • e.g., slaves cannot assemble in large numbers, slaves cannot be taught to read and write, etc.
Resistance and Rebellion • Some did rebel, such as Nat Turner, a slave who educated himself. • Turner led slaves on a rampage in 1831 that led to the deaths of 55 white people. • Turner was hanged, and more slave codes were enforced. • Other slave leaders were Gabriel Prossner and Denmark Vesey. • Vesey believed the Bible and Declaration of Independence forbade slavery.
Resistance and Rebellion • Most resistance was less violent. • Breaking tools, feigning illness, setting fire to fields, working slowly, etc. • Some slaves got their freedom. • Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass fled to the North. • Tubman helped runaway slaves through the “Underground Railroad,” a collection of safe houses owned by free blacks and sympathetic whites. • Most runaway slaves were caught.
Resistance and Rebellion • Most resistance was less violent. • Breaking tools, feigning illness, setting fire to fields, working slowly, etc. • Some slaves got their freedom. • Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass fled to the North. • Douglass was self-educated and wrote a book about his experiences. • Tubman helped runaway slaves through the “Underground Railroad,” a collection of safe houses owned by free blacks and sympathetic whites.
Resistance and Rebellion • Most runaway slaves were caught and punished severely. • Even if slaves could get to the North, fugitive slave laws were set up to guarantee runaway slaves were returned to their owners.
