ANTEBELLUM SLAVERYANTEBELLUM SLAVERY

Southern EconomySouthern Economy

King CottonKing Cotton

Plantation LifePlantation Life

Non-Gentry ClassNon-Gentry Class

Slave FamilySlave Family

Southern EconomySouthern Economy

Upper South: Tobacco, diversified cropsUpper South: Tobacco, diversified crops

• Lower South: rice, indigo, sugar, cottonLower South: rice, indigo, sugar, cotton

• Cotton Growth: Cotton Gin, short stapleCotton Growth: Cotton Gin, short staple

• Shift South 1830s: “Cotton Belt,” Shift South 1830s: “Cotton Belt,”

• King Cotton: 1840 1.35 m bales, 1860 4.5King Cotton: 1840 1.35 m bales, 1860 4.5– ¾ of world’s cotton, over 50% US exports¾ of world’s cotton, over 50% US exports– Huge Profits: 10% year over year Huge Profits: 10% year over year

Southern Economy IISouthern Economy II

• Second Middle Passage: 1 million soldSecond Middle Passage: 1 million sold– into Deep South, many families split-upinto Deep South, many families split-up– Price of male slave increases up to $2,000 Price of male slave increases up to $2,000

• Concentration of Plantations: Concentration of Plantations: – 1860: 25% of South whites owned slaves1860: 25% of South whites owned slaves– Only about 3% had 20 to 50 slavesOnly about 3% had 20 to 50 slaves– Great Planters political control of SouthGreat Planters political control of South

• Transportation: relied on rivers, few railsTransportation: relied on rivers, few rails

• Education: much less than northEducation: much less than north

PlantationPlantation

Slave AuctionSlave Auction

Auction PostingAuction Posting

Plantation Life and CulturePlantation Life and Culture

• Chivalry: English aristocracy the modelChivalry: English aristocracy the model

• Paternalism: Father of extended familyPaternalism: Father of extended family

• The plantation was an independent unitThe plantation was an independent unit

• Slave Hierarchy: house slave, field slaveSlave Hierarchy: house slave, field slave

• Gang Labor: Overseer, Driver, task Gang Labor: Overseer, Driver, task systemsystem

• Punishment & Reward:Punishment & Reward:– Stick: whipping and threat of saleStick: whipping and threat of sale– Carrot: own plot, less hours, rent outCarrot: own plot, less hours, rent out

Non Gentry ClassNon Gentry Class

• Small slave owner: 88% below 20 slavesSmall slave owner: 88% below 20 slaves– Most 2 or 3 slaves; worked, ate, slept w slaveMost 2 or 3 slaves; worked, ate, slept w slave

• Yeoman Farmer: 75% whites no slavesYeoman Farmer: 75% whites no slaves– Hills, backwoods, rented land, diverse cropsHills, backwoods, rented land, diverse crops– ““poor white trash,” Ozarks, Appalachianspoor white trash,” Ozarks, Appalachians– Why support Gentry? 1) racial hierarchyWhy support Gentry? 1) racial hierarchy– 2) had many rights, 3) dreamed of owning 2) had many rights, 3) dreamed of owning

slaves 4) did not want to compete with freed slaves 4) did not want to compete with freed slavesslaves

Slave HousesSlave Houses

4% Africans to N. America (pg 4% Africans to N. America (pg 75) 500,000 /11 million, 4 m in 75) 500,000 /11 million, 4 m in 18601860

Slave FamilySlave Family

• Standard of Living: lower than north, but Standard of Living: lower than north, but not much lower than N. working classnot much lower than N. working class

• Family: over 50% nuclear family, child Family: over 50% nuclear family, child worked at 10, plantation familyworked at 10, plantation family

• Religion: Christianity(after 1840s)& Religion: Christianity(after 1840s)& AfricanAfrican– influences, black church source of strength influences, black church source of strength

• Slave economy: garden, home man. Slave economy: garden, home man.

• Slave Resistance: open and clandestineSlave Resistance: open and clandestine– Nat Turner 1831, Nat Turner 1831,