Why was the South dedicated to it’s “peculiar institution”?

Early Emancipation in the North

Missouri Compromise, 1820

Cotton Kingdom develops to huge agricultural factory Northern shippers reaped a large part of the profits from the cotton trade to a large degree, the prosperity of both the North and the South rested on the bent backs of slaves South produced more than half the world’s cotton supply-A fact that held foreign nations in economic bondage to the South. - Britain was the world economic superpower and 1/5 of its population drew its wealth from cotton cloth - 75% of that cotton came from the South King Cotton

Changes in Cotton Production

Value of Cotton Exports As % of All US Exports

Southern Oligarchy Planter aristocrats had the majority of the wealth Planter aristocrats had the majority of the wealth Educated their children in private schoolsEducated their children in private schools These young men became experts at statecraft: John C. Calhoun; Jefferson Davis - felt a keen sense to serve the publicThese young men became experts at statecraft: John C. Calhoun; Jefferson Davis - felt a keen sense to serve the public But widened gap b/w rich and poorBut widened gap b/w rich and poor

Southern Population

The “Wasteful” Plantation System 1.Economic system becomes monopolistic Small farmers must sell their landholdings and move north or westSmall farmers must sell their landholdings and move north or west 2.Financial instability of the system –Led to over speculation in land and slaves –(supporting evidence) slaves fed for.10 cents a day but could cost $1,200 each; they could be injured; they could run away; they could be wiped out by disease 3.Agribusiness - King Cotton meant one crop economy. No diversification or industry 4.Southern planters resent watching North grow fat at their expense –(supporting cultural division) Southerners resent being wrapped in Northern cloth, coffins with Yankee nails 5.Cotton Kingdom repelled large scale European immigration –No diversity of people –Irish immigration competes with slave labor

Southern Agriculture

Characteristics of the 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.

1/4 of white southerners owned slaves1/4 of white southerners owned slaves –Smaller slave owners did not own a majority of the slaves but they made up the majority of the masters –Typically modest farmhouses, working with and eating with the slaves Beneath them: 3/4 white southerners owned no slavesBeneath them: 3/4 white southerners owned no slaves – Redneck farmers living on thinner soils of backcountry and mountains. –Subsistence farmers - corn and hogs. Isolated lives Below them - “poor white trash”Below them - “poor white trash” All these whites without slaves had no direct stake in preservation of slavery yet they were among the stoutest defenders. Why? All these whites without slaves had no direct stake in preservation of slavery yet they were among the stoutest defenders. Why? The White Majority

Slave-Owning Families (1850)

Slave-Owning Population (1850)

Hope of American dream - one day they might own slavesHope of American dream - one day they might own slaves Fierce in need to proclaim racial superiorityFierce in need to proclaim racial superiority Always want to outrank someone elseAlways want to outrank someone else Poor White Southerners

Free blacks purchased freedom purchased freedom often illegal to marry within the state of residenceoften illegal to marry within the state of residence Owned propertyOwned property Owned other slavesOwned other slaves Couldn’t testify in courtCouldn’t testify in court Vulnerable to being kidnapped and sold into slaveryVulnerable to being kidnapped and sold into slavery Freed blacks unpopular in NorthFreed blacks unpopular in North

Slave work and resistance Majority of slaves lived and worked on large plantationsMajority of slaves lived and worked on large plantations 55% cotton production, 10% tobacco, 10% sugar, rice and hemp, 15% domestic servants, 10% in urban industries55% cotton production, 10% tobacco, 10% sugar, rice and hemp, 15% domestic servants, 10% in urban industries Slow work or feigning illness were common forms of passive resistanceSlow work or feigning illness were common forms of passive resistance

Slave society Two-parent families were stable and long-lastingTwo-parent families were stable and long-lasting Extended family (blood or not) protected children if a family member was soldExtended family (blood or not) protected children if a family member was sold Music served as form of communication and protestMusic served as form of communication and protest African traditions blended with Christianity to create distinct form of worshipAfrican traditions blended with Christianity to create distinct form of worship

The Underground Railroad System of safe houses that hid and fed slaves escaping to the North and CanadaSystem of safe houses that hid and fed slaves escaping to the North and Canada Only a few hundred slaves a year escaped, mainly from the upper SouthOnly a few hundred slaves a year escaped, mainly from the upper South Harriet Tubman escaped Delaware in 1849 and returned 19 times to help dozens of others, including familyHarriet Tubman escaped Delaware in 1849 and returned 19 times to help dozens of others, including family