Economies of the North & South

Learning Targets

I can assess the role that economic forces had on shaping our social history.• I can compare and contrast the economic systems

of the North and South.• I can explain why Africans were enslaved and

brought to the Americas.• I can describe the voyage of slaves from Africa to

the Americas.• I can describe and evaluate colonists’ feelings about

immigration during colonization.

The Agricultural South

• The South based its economy on agriculture.– Plantations (mostly cotton and tobacco) with slavery

• Slavery began in the colonies in the 1650s.• Most slaves entered the colonies through Charleston

or Savannah.• Transatlantic slave trade ended in 1808, but trade

within the US continued.

Slaves’ Voyage to America

• Began with branding them with hot irons to ID them

• Beaten severely• Force fed• Forced to sleep in pools of

their own blood, urine, feces, and vomit

• 20% died during the journey—many from committing suicide

“Slavery was not born of racism: rather, racism was the consequence of slavery.”.

-Eric Williams (in 1944)Caribbean Historian and 1st Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago

What does this quote mean? Which do you think came first in North America—slavery or

institutional racism? (What is “institutional racism”?) Would slavery benefit racism? How so? Would racism benefit slavery? How so? Which stands to benefit more?

Is Eric Williams a reputable source of information on this subject?

The Industrial North

• Geography of the North meant less demand for slave labor.

• The North based its economy on industry, commerce, and trade.

• Cities with harbors grew rapidly.– New York, Boston, Philadelphia

Industry & Immigration

• Industry meant lots of entry-level jobs.• People from Europe began coming to northern

cities for those opportunities.• European immigrants accounted for 28% of

the population.

Based on what you know, when “different” people move into the U.S., what

happens? Do we…A. Welcome them into the existing culture.B. See it as a great opportunity to learn from

another culture.C. Single them out as targets for discrimination

and scapegoating.

“Why should Pennsylvania, founded by the English, become a Colony of Aliens, who will shortly be so numerous as to Germanize us instead of our Anglifying them, and will never adopt our Language or Customs, any more than they can acquire our Complexion.”

– Benjamin Franklin, “Observations Concerning the Increase of Mankind” 1751

Learning Targets

I can assess the role that economic forces had on shaping our social history. I can compare and contrast the economic systems

of the North and South. I can explain why Africans were enslaved and

brought to the Americas. I can describe the voyage of slaves from Africa to

the Americas. I can describe and evaluate colonists’ feelings about

immigration during colonization.