Characteristics of the Characteristics of the Antebellum SouthAntebellum South

Characteristics of the Characteristics of the Antebellum SouthAntebellum South

1.1. Primarily agrarian.Primarily agrarian.

2.2. Economic power shifted from the Economic power shifted from the ““upper Southupper South”” to the to the ““lower South.lower South.””

3.3. ““Cotton Is King!Cotton Is King!”” * 1860 * 1860 5 mil. bales a yr. 5 mil. bales a yr. (57% of total US exports). (57% of total US exports).

4.4. Lack of industrialization - Lack of industrialization - De BowDe Bow’’s s ReviewReview..

5.5. Rudimentary (basic) financial system Rudimentary (basic) financial system - - ““factorsfactors””..

6.6. Inadequate transportation system.Inadequate transportation system.

Southern Society Southern Society (1850)(1850)

Southern Society Southern Society (1850)(1850)““SlavocracySlavocracy””

[plantation owners][plantation owners]““SlavocracySlavocracy””

[plantation owners][plantation owners]

The The ““Plain FolkPlain Folk””[white yeoman farmers][white yeoman farmers]

Poor Whites - 500,000Poor Whites - 500,000

The The ““Plain FolkPlain Folk””[white yeoman farmers][white yeoman farmers]

Poor Whites - 500,000Poor Whites - 500,000

6,000,0006,000,000

Black FreemenBlack FreemenBlack FreemenBlack Freemen

Black SlavesBlack Slaves3,200,000 3,200,000

(up from 1 mil. in 1800)(up from 1 mil. in 1800)

Black SlavesBlack Slaves3,200,000 3,200,000

(up from 1 mil. in 1800)(up from 1 mil. in 1800)

250,000250,000

Total US Population Total US Population 23,000,000 23,000,000[9,250,000 in the South = 40%][9,250,000 in the South = 40%]

“Cavalier Image”

Poor White TrashPoor White Trashof the South of the South ““CrackersCrackers”” ““Clay EatersClay Eaters””

““Sand HillersSand Hillers””Why were they often the most intent on Why were they often the most intent on

preserving slavery even though they owned no slaves?preserving slavery even though they owned no slaves?

Southern PopulationSouthern PopulationSouthern PopulationSouthern Population

Southern Southern AgricultureAgricultureSouthern Southern

AgricultureAgriculture

Changes in Cotton Changes in Cotton ProductionProduction

Changes in Cotton Changes in Cotton ProductionProduction

18201820

18601860

Value of Cotton Exports Value of Cotton Exports As % of All US ExportsAs % of All US Exports

Value of Cotton Exports Value of Cotton Exports As % of All US ExportsAs % of All US Exports

Graniteville Textile Graniteville Textile Co.Co.

Graniteville Textile Graniteville Textile Co.Co.

Founded in 1845, it was the South’s first attempt at industrialization in

Richmond, VAThe South had 15% of nation’s

manufactured goods by the 1850s

Slave-Owning Population Slave-Owning Population (1850)(1850)

Slave-Owning Population Slave-Owning Population (1850)(1850)

The Culture of SlaveryThe Culture of SlaveryThe Culture of SlaveryThe Culture of Slavery1. Black Christianity [Baptists or

Methodists]: * more emotional worship services. * negro spirituals.

2. “Pidgin” or Gullah languages.

3. Nuclear family with extended kin links,where possible.

4. Importance of music in their lives. [esp. spirituals].

Emancipation in the Emancipation in the NorthNorth

Emancipation in the Emancipation in the NorthNorth

But these dates are misleading - PA law freed newborns at 28 - some slaves in 1830s - NJ 1860s.

Southern Slavery--> An Southern Slavery--> An Aberration?Aberration?

Southern Slavery--> An Southern Slavery--> An Aberration?Aberration?

1780s: 1st antislavery society created in Phila.

By 1804: emancipation laws (some gradual) for each northern state.

1807: the legal termination of the slave trade, enforced by the British Royal Navy.

1820s: newly independent. Republics of Central & S. America freed slaves free.

1833: slavery abolished throughout the British Empire.

1844: slavery abolished in the French colonies.

US Laws Regarding US Laws Regarding SlaverySlavery

US Laws Regarding US Laws Regarding SlaverySlavery

1. U. S. Constitution: * 3/5s compromise [I.2] * Article IV Section 2 - fugitive

slave clause

2. 1793 Fugitive Slave Act - illegal to assist escaped slaves - fugitives for life - slave catching industry

3. 1850 stronger Fugitive Slave Act - stronger punishment and slaves couldn’t testify - rewards.

Missouri Compromise, Missouri Compromise, 18201820

Missouri Compromise, Missouri Compromise, 18201820

Slaves Using the Cotton Slaves Using the Cotton GinGin

Slaves Using the Cotton Slaves Using the Cotton GinGin

Slaves WorkingSlaves Workingin a Sugar-Boiling House, in a Sugar-Boiling House,

18231823

Slaves WorkingSlaves Workingin a Sugar-Boiling House, in a Sugar-Boiling House,

18231823

Who were typically used for the most dangerousJobs in the South?

Slave Auction Notice, Slave Auction Notice, 18231823

Slave Auction Notice, Slave Auction Notice, 18231823

Slave Auction: Charleston, SC-Slave Auction: Charleston, SC-18561856

Slave Auction: Charleston, SC-Slave Auction: Charleston, SC-18561856

Slave tag, SC

Tools of SlaveryTools of SlaveryTools of SlaveryTools of Slavery

Slave leg irons

Slave shoes

Slave MasterBrands

Tools of SlaveryTools of SlaveryTools of SlaveryTools of Slavery

Slave muzzle

Anti-Slave PamphletAnti-Slave PamphletAnti-Slave PamphletAnti-Slave Pamphlet

The High Cost of The High Cost of SlaverySlavery

The High Cost of The High Cost of SlaverySlavery

High cost of keeping slaves fromescaping.

Slave patrols - bloodhounds, bounty hunters

Slave Codes

Punishment: whipping, beating

- Getting “Sold Down the River”

““Sold Down the RiverSold Down the River””• Upper South - years of Upper South - years of

tobacco had exhausted tobacco had exhausted soil in Virginia, Maryland, soil in Virginia, Maryland, & NC& NC

• Expanding demand for Expanding demand for slaves in Deep South for slaves in Deep South for cottoncotton

• ““Breeding plantationsBreeding plantations””• 1790-1860 1 million slaves 1790-1860 1 million slaves

sold sold ““down the riverdown the river”” - also - also used as punishmentused as punishment

• 250,000 slaves shipped in 250,000 slaves shipped in 1850s alone1850s alone

Slave ResistanceSlave ResistanceSlave ResistanceSlave Resistance1. “Sambo” - slaves playing up to

stereotypes around owners

2. Defiance - Refusal to work hard.

3. Theft & isolated acts of sabotage.

4. Escape via the Underground Railroad.

Runaway Slave AdsRunaway Slave AdsRunaway Slave AdsRunaway Slave Ads

5. Revolt - Slave Rebellions 5. Revolt - Slave Rebellions

in the Antebellum Southin the Antebellum South

5. Revolt - Slave Rebellions 5. Revolt - Slave Rebellions

in the Antebellum Southin the Antebellum South

1822

Gabriel Prosser

1800

Slave Rebellions in the Slave Rebellions in the Antebellum South:Antebellum South:

Nat Turner, Nat Turner, 18311831

Slave Rebellions in the Slave Rebellions in the Antebellum South:Antebellum South:

Nat Turner, Nat Turner, 18311831

What were the most significant results of this revolt?

The Southern The Southern ““BelleBelle””The Southern The Southern ““BelleBelle””

Southern Pro-SlaverySouthern Pro-SlaveryPropagandaPropaganda

Southern Pro-SlaverySouthern Pro-SlaveryPropagandaPropaganda

What is the message?