Antebellum Classes

Key Vocabulary Antebellum Elite Social Class Aristocracy Merchant

Elite wealthy, planter upper class, land rich (lots of land) owned 20 or more slaves gained wealth from the growth and sales of cotton and rice lived primarily along the coast of South Carolina until the 1800’s when they began to move into the midlands and upstate. children were often educated by private tutors or in private schools in South Carolina or overseas. had greater power in politics and influence in the state because of their wealth. The elite made laws that protected their interests, especially there interests in slavery.

Middle Class Tradesmen (skilled worker), merchants, shopkeepers, physicians (doctors), and attorneys. They could easily earn a living during good economic times. most likely to live in cities and towns had some political influence in their neighborhoods may have owned a few slaves to do household chores Children were taught to read and write and could follow in their footsteps of their father.

Lower Class unskilled, uneducated, and often landless few job opportunities People who could afford to hire the lower class to work preferred using slave labor because it was cheaper. Often the lower class lived on a piece of land they did not own and farmed the land for the food they needed to survive. Children were uneducated because there was no public school and the parents needed to children to work. had no political influence.

Independent Farmers owned small farms and worked for themselves with the help of their family could own a few slaves but the farmers worked side by side with them in the fields Children might be educated at home. The majority of farming in the state, and especially in the upstate, was done by these farmers. As they became more successful in growing cash crops (cotton and rice), they could move up in social standing. Some even became members of the elite.

Free African Americans usually had a specific skill, such as carpentry, or a talent, such as music making-these skills led them to be hired out by masters. Some who were hired out were allowed to keep a portion of their money they earned which they saved to buy their freedom. Others were given their freedom for some special deed or service. This became less likely after the slave rebellions in the 1830’s. Their skills or talents allowed them to earn a living in the South. Many stayed in the South because they had family members who were still enslaved. They worked to earn money to buy the freedom of wives and children. Children might be taught to read and write at home but there were no public schools. Free African Americans in the South had more chances to make money than the free African Americans in the North because of the specific skills. Free African Americans had to pay a special tax and carry their freedom papers wherever they went. lived in fear of being returned to slavery

Enslaved African Americans unpaid labor source who were bought and sold and considered the property of their master. had to carry a pass to travel from one plantation to another Many were born and died on the same plantation where they lived in one-room slave cabins under strict watch of their masters. Others were sold at the death of the master, when they were disobedient, or when the master needed money. Families could be divided by these sales. worked from sun-up to sun-down in the field’s or in the master’s house without pay but were given a few clothes and limited amounts of food illegal for slaves and their children to learn to read and write. This was because the master thought the knowledge could allow them to escape. Slaves who disobeyed the rules or tried to escape were punished.

Compare the Elite, Middle, and Lower Classes Elite MiddleLower

Review Questions 1.What would you fear if you were a free African American? 2.As a lower class white person, were you any better off than a free African American? 3.What do you think would be the worst part of being a slave? 4.Do you think being an independent farmer would be so bad? Why or Why not? 5.Why do middle class citizens tend to live in the city during the Antebellum period?

Journal Choose one society class, and describe what your life would be like if you were living in the Antebellum period as a person in that class. Example: If you choose, independent farmer, you would describe what you think your life would be like as an independent farmer.