Period IV: 1800-1848 Part 4: Cotton, Slavery, and the Old South · 2018. 9. 7. · Life Under...
Transcript of Period IV: 1800-1848 Part 4: Cotton, Slavery, and the Old South · 2018. 9. 7. · Life Under...
Period IV: 1800-1848 Part 4: Cotton, Slavery, and the Old
South
Growth Without Development
! Remained overwhelmingly agrarian through the 19th century
! Few important cities and little industry
! Emerged as a distinctly different region from the North
Southern Economics
! Shift of economic power from “upper South” to “lower South”
! The rise of “King Cotton” ! Short-staple cotton: hardier and coarser
! Demand for cotton growing rapidly – textile industry in New England and Britain
! Production spread west – The Black Belt
Southern Economy
! Very slow development of industry
! Inadequate transportation system
! Rudimentary financial system
! Economic dependence on the North
The Planter Class
! Sustained image of aristocracy
! Elaborate code of chivalry – importance of “honor” ! Preston Brooks attack of Charles Sumner
The “Southern Lady”
! Lives centered around the home
! Southern white men gave particular importance to the “defense” of women
! “plantation mistress”
! Less access to education than northern women
The “Plain Folk”
! Yeomen Farmers
! About 75% of white families – owned no slaves
! 20% owned fewer than 20 slaves
! Subsistence farmers
! Limited educational opportunities
! “Mountain People” – isolated from commercial economy
The “Plain Folk”
! Small farmers tied to plantation economy ! Depended on aristocracy for many things
! Little class conflict ! Perception of race – still considered selves the ruling
race
“The Peculiar Institution”
! Isolated the South from the rest of American society
! Institution was established and regulated in detail by law ! “Slave Codes”
! Varieties of slavery – different experiences
Life Under Slavery
! Special position of women ! Worked in fields alongside men, also responsible for domestic
duties
! High mortality rate
! Cotton growing less debilitating than sugar growing
! Economic incentive to maintain healthy slave population ! Overseers had less incentive
! Household servants had easier life ! Vulnerable to sexual abuse
Free African Americans
! About half in Virginia and Maryland
! Often bought freedom ! Others freed by masters
! Tightened restrictions on free blacks – made it difficult for owners to free slaves ! Fear of rebellion
The Slave Trade
! Slave Markets ! Bidders checked slaves like livestock
! Separated families
! Foreign Slave Trade – smuggled into U.S.
Slave Resistance
! Combination of adaptation and resistance
! Slave revolts were extremely rare ! 1800 – Gabriel Prosser
! 1831 – Nat Turner
! Less drastic – running away, isolated acts of sabotage ! Assisted by Underground Railroad
Culture of Slavery
! Language and Music ! Pidgin
! Slave Spirituals
! Religion ! Usually Christian
! Sometimes included African influence
! Themes of freedom and deliverance
The Slave Family
! Lack of legal marriage
! Unstable – could be broken apart by slave trade
! Slave women often bore children of white masters
! Paternal relationship between masters and slaves