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