Chapter 4

Removal of Mississippi’s Native Americans After Mississippi became a state, the federal government set up a policy of assimilation (encouraging the Native Americans to rely on agriculture in order to fit in better with white settlers) of the Native Americans. Most Native Americans DID NOT want to change their way of life. So, the US gave up the idea of assimilation.

Treaties with the Native Americans People wanted all Indians to move west of the MS River. WHY?? US wanted land. US insisted the Indians be subject to state laws and courts. How did they get them to leave?? Get out treaty chart!

Treaty of Fort Adams Received by United States 3 Million acres of land Right to build the Natchez Trace through Choctaw territory Received by Native Americans $1000s in merchandise Promise that non-Indians would be removed from Indian land

Treaty of Mount Dexter Received by United States 4 Million acres of land in south Mississippi Received by Native Americans Indians’ debts were cancelled Annual pensions for Indian leaders

Treaty of Doak’s Stand Received by United States 5 Million acres of land Received by Native Americans Lands west of the Mississippi River They did not want it!

Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek Received by United States Rest of Choctaw land in Mississippi Choctaw would move out Received by Native Americans Choctaw could stay if they registered with the U.S. government

Treaty of Pontotoc Creek Received by United States Chickasaw land in north Mississippi Chickasaw moved west Received by Native Americans NOTHING!

After the treaties, the Choctaw and Chickasaw left MS.

“My friends, circumstances render it impossible that you can flourish in the midst of a civilized community. You have but one remedy within your reach, and that is to remove to the west. And the sooner you do this, the sooner you will commence your career of improvement and prosperity.” Andrew Jackson commenting on the Indian Removal Act

Trail of Tears

Tribes Involved in Trail of Tears Choctaw* Chickasaw* Cherokee Creek Seminole *MS tribes

Cotton

Cotton Production Why was this area perfect for cotton? Lots of fertile land Long growing season Many navigable streams for shipping Negative effects of cotton production Land erosion Land exhaustion

Slavery in MS

Slavery Slave ownership in MS Only 9% of the white population owned slaves ½ owned no more than 5 slaves Only 19 had more than 300 slaves Most slaves lived on plantations with less than 20 slaves. Take out slavery question sheet!

Slavery in Mississippi 1. How did slaves arrive in MS? The French brought the first slaves. 2. How did MS law limit the activities of slaves? Few rights = Black Codes (1724) used to restrict and “protect” slaves 3. When did slaves receive extra clothing? For good work 4. What foods did slaves eat? Pork, corn, fruit, vegetables, game, fish 5. What housing did owners provide for their slaves? Cabins & bunk houses without windows or floors

6. What kinds of work did slaves do? Worked in fields, cleaned, made clothing, tended livestock, cooked, took care of owner’s children 7. What was family life like for slaves? Families split up; families were close 8. What part did religion play in slaves’ lives? Hope for freedom 9. Aside from revolts, how did slaves resist slavery? Ran away, broke equipment, worked slow, some poisoned food

Free Blacks in MS Lived mostly in Natchez and Vicksburg By law, freed slaves had to leave the state. So, the number of free Blacks declined. Virginia Slave Revolt Led by Nat Turner a slave preacher in Virginia Whites feared revolts and even rumors led to beatings and executions. In 1835, blacks and whites in Madison County were killed because of a rumored slave revolt. No slave revolts occurred in Mississippi.

William Johnson Free black who lived in Natchez He was a barber who owned land and slaves Murdered over a land dispute in 1851 The killer was never prosecuted because the only witnesses were blacks who by law could not testify in court.

Land & Population The removal of the Choctaw & Chickasaw created a land boom (a lot of land became available) in the 1830s. 30 counties were created. 7 million acres of land was bought during this time period. The state population grew more rapidly than the country’s population.

Antebellum Economy Specie was gold or silver used as money. The good times came to an end with the coming of an economic depression. The federal government began taking back land bought on credit. Cotton prices fell.

State bonds were declared no longer valid & remain unpaid. The state repudiated (canceled or refused to pay) the bonds. The state of MS refused to pay its debts to Great Britain. The 11 th Amendment prohibits lawsuits in federal court by foreign citizens trying to collect money from states. Since appealing to the FEDERAL courts didn’t work, foreign nations tried to sue for their bond money back through the state courts in Great Britain has never been paid back. Great Britain still considers MS a bad credit risk.

Transportation The economy depended on having adequate transportation. Cotton was carried on steamboats on the rivers. Railroads solved land transportation problems in the state. It was difficult to build railroads in MS because of the state’s creeks and streams.

Steamboats

Railroads

Schools Public schools were not funded by counties until after Parents who were able had to pay tuition. Approximately 90,000 were able to attend school. By 1860, 30,000 children were attending schools. The school term lasted 3 months. Higher education was the responsibility of private and religious organizations.

Franklin Academy in Columbus was the first free public school in the state.