Slide 1

Slavery Slide 2 Essential Question To what degree was the South developing as a distinctively different region from the rest of the United States during the period 1820 to 1860? To what degree did slavery shape life in the South during this period? (Consider political, economic, social and intellectual aspects of life in the South) Slide 3 Characteristics of Antebellum South 1.Primarily agrarian. 2.Economic power shifted from the upper South to the lower South. 3.Cotton Is King! * 1860 5 mil. bales a yr. (57% of total US exports). 4.Very slow development of industrialization. 5.Rudimentary financial system. 6.Inadequate transportation system Slide 4 The Agricultural Economy of the South,1860 Slide 5 Changes in Cotton Production 1820 1860 Slide 6 Value of Cotton Exports Slide 7 Southern Population Slide 8 Cotton Gin Slide 9 Eli Whitney Invented cotton gin in 1793 Removed the seed, cotton production now seen as profitable 50% more efficient than picking by hand Cotton becomes main cash crop of south Increased the need for slaves, unintended effect Slide 10 Slavery Caused a cotton boom and the south became a cotton kingdom Black Belt- cotton production moved into Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama Necessary evil- even though slavery was morally wrong, it was an economic necessity Slide 11 Slaves using a Cotton Gin Slide 12 Southern Economy South became a monopolistic economy, dominated by wealthy plantation owners Industrial growth lagged behind the North Southerners resentful the North made huge profits at their expense South complained of northern middlemen, bankers, and shippers South resentful being so dependent on northern manufactures and markets Attention was drawn away from the development of southern cities Slide 13 Cotton/Slavery By 1804 most Northern states abolish slavery Cotton is king in South Great demand for cotton from Britain and North Plantation System established South produces 80% of worlds cotton Slavery becomes entrenched Slide 14 Slide 15 Slide 16 Weaknesses of Plantation System Relied on a one crop economy Repelled large scale European immigration Stimulated racism among poor whites Created an aristocratic political elite Slide 17 Life under Slavery Small number of whites owned slaves, but they held the power in South Gap widens between rich and poor, slave at bottom 1808 importation of slaves is banned Plantation slaves worked from dusk to dawn Slaves are whipped, have little time for food, no rest breaks Slide 18 Slave System Slave pop. 4 million by 1860, 4x as many in 1800 Importation ended in 1808 Slaves were treated as property They were deprived of their African names, culture and religion Africanism- survived as an African American subculture in music, religion and folklore Deprived of their dignity Slide 19 Treatment of Slaves Suffered cruel physical and psychological treatment Were convinced they were inferior and deserved their lot in life Slaves were provided with limited diet, clothing, housing and medical care Discipline by whip very common House servants treated better than field workers 75% worked as field hands Illegal to teach slaves to read and write- fear give slaves idea of freedom Slide 20 Treatment of Slaves Slave pop. Increased due to breeding Owners rewarded slave women for having many children Sexual abuse of female slaves common White slave owners often fathered sizable mulatto population, most remained slaves Marriages were not recognized Sale of slaves did not respect family ties Sold down the river- meant being sold to owner in deep south Slide 21 Slave Auction: Charleston, SC-1856 Slide 22 Slave Master Brands Slave Accoutrements Slave muzzle Slide 23 Anti-Slave Pamphlet Slide 24 Slave tag, SC Slave Accoutrements Slave leg irons Slave shoes Slide 25 Culture of slavery Black Christianity (Baptists)- very emotional services Pidgin or Gullah languages Nuclear family with extended kin links Music very important- spirituals Slide 26 Slave resistance Slowing down the work Isolated acts of sabotage Escaped via Underground railroad Organized revolts Poisoned food Slide 27 Runaway Slave Ads Slide 28 Slave Rebellions 1800 - Gabriel Prosser Richmond, VA 1000 Slaves Plot revealed before revolt began 35 executed 1822 - Denmark Vesey Free Black living in Charleston Rumored 9000 followers Plot revealed before revolt began Led to further suppression Slide 29 Slave Rebellions 1833 Nat Turner in Virginia Slave Preacher Killed 60 white men, women, children 100+ Slaves murdered in response Caused widespread anxiety among plantation owners causing stricter black codes Slide 30 Nat Turners Rebellion Led slave rebellion that killed 60 whites Turner is hung Most successful slave revolt Southern states create black codes- to tighten control on blacks Free African Americans as well as slaves lose rights Slide 31 White Society and Culture Why did many southerners support the slave system when 75% didnt own a slave? How did they justify slavery? Who did not support slave system? Slide 32 Defense of Slavery Necessary evil-positive good Legal-constitutional History of Greece and Rome Religious The bible Better than wages in North- Wage Slaves Paternalistic view- necessary to protect blacks from mistreatment and abuse they would receive if free Slide 33 Southern White Paranoia Feared more revolts Infuriated by abolitionists propaganda Believed institution benefited both races Biological racial superiority to justify slavery Gag Resolutions- southern fears of debate of anti-slavery appeals- prevented debate on abolition proposals Black Codes- banned from holding office, no jury trial, could not carry firearms Slide 34 Planter Class Held enormous political power- less 10% of the population Often viewed as Aristocrats Adopted a code of chivalry Slide 35 Southern Lady Subordinate to men- no rights except the right of protection Minimal exposure to the public Slide 36 Plain Folk Subsistence Farmers Yeoman Farmer Inferior Education Lower Literacy Rates Subordinate to Upper Class Slide 37 Plain Folk Minority Hill people Living in or west of Appalachians Isolated from slave culture Extremely poor whites Majority Live around Plantations Depend on upper class for economic support