Slavery Economy Reality Antebellum South Slavery Economy Reality

The most important single manufacture was this in the 1850’s Answer: Cotton cloth ½ value of American exports South produced ½ of world supply More cotton demanded more slave labor Corn took more acreage than cotton Cotton was largest cash crop South was the largest producer in the world from 1815 to 1860 Helped North and West Center of cotton production kept moving westward

Cotton production moves West

The country that was mostly dependent on exports from the South Answer: Britain Slave trade was to end in 1808 British navy responsible for stopping traffic in slaves from Africa/West Indies Enforcement of US was weak Thousands of slaves were smuggled in

Only 4.4% of immigrants ended up in the South Unlike the North, who needed their cheap labor, the South did not readily accept these people into their region Answer: Immigrants Only 4.4% of immigrants ended up in the South

By 1860, over 75% of all southern whites owned (how many) _________ slaves Answer: 0

Myth of Monolithic Society Large plantation agriculture dominant in Antebellum South. Most Southern whites were not slaveholders 76.1% were non-slaveholders 1860 0.1% owned more than 100 slaves

Planter Aristocracy – “Gone with the Wind” Undemocratic Society Large Gap between rich and poor Children of wealthy sent to private schools Many times in the North Rich did not support tax supported public education

Sham Civilization

Southern Belle

Mammy

Answer: Appalachian range/West Virginia or Northern Georgia/Alabama “Mountain Whites” were people who lived near this region, and were small independent farmers Answer: Appalachian range/West Virginia or Northern Georgia/Alabama Most impoverished whites Squatters “Poor white trash” Still defended slavery Chance of American Dream Racial Superiority

Some free blacks were property owners Some were slave owners A sizeable mulatto population developed a free black society in this city Answer : New Orleans Some free blacks were property owners Some were slave owners What is a mulatto? “3rd Race” Both unpopular in North and South Irish/ Black conflict

Historical Observations South Liked individual blacks Despised the race Used slaves for Wet nurses Child rearing Companionship Mothers of slave masters’ offspring North Liked the race Disliked individual blacks

Answer: natural reproduction that increased the slave population The huge bulk of the increase in the slave population cam not from imports but from this Answer: natural reproduction that increased the slave population

Where did they work? 75% of all slaves worked in agriculture 55% in cotton 10% in tobacco 10% in rice, sugar, and hemp Out of the remaining 25% 15% were domestic servants the rest were in mining, lumbering, construction, and industry

Slaves were the wealth of the South Slaves were an investment $1800.00 Often used expendable Irish labors for life threatening work

South stayed rural Industrial advancements usually lead to urbanization. Not the case in the South Not concerned with introducing any other industry as long as cotton was King Led to a monopolistic economy Made individuals rich Economy as a whole weak

Some counties along lower Mississippi comprised of 75% black By 1860 most slaves were concentrated in the “black belt” of this region in the south Answer: Deep South Some counties along lower Mississippi comprised of 75% black Contributed to stable family Distinctive African American Culture

Conditions Varied according to Region Size of plantation or farm Master While brutality was a reality, masters had to take into consideration workability and resale value. Usually the more intensive the labor, the harsher the conditions

How to cope? Family bonds Black Christianity often able to marry and have children Black Christianity called upon their freedom as Hebrews’ Exodus from Egypt Used song and strong spiritual revival Jubilee

Name one of the men who led a slave rebellion in the early 1800’s Answer: Gabriel of Richmond, Virginia (1800) Vesey, of Charleston (1822) Nat Turner (1831) Slaves would resort to Slowing down Stealing food Beginning underground businesses

Justification of Slavery “necessary evil” Biblical Justification Great civilizations had slaves Egypt, Greece, Rome Constitution does not say anything about slavery Slow mental and moral development of Africans-”Negroes are like children”