Chapter 10
Eli Whitney – removed seeds from cotton Made it profitable to grow short-staple cotton Southerners pour into western Georgia, Alabama & Mississippi and then Louisiana and Texas South becomes dependent on slavery for their economy
International slave trade banned in 1808 Must rely on internal natural growth and internal trade Slavery was profitable for slaveholders but Northerners are increasingly uncomfortable
Between 1790 and 1860 slave population grew from 700,000 to four million More women were breastfeeding for a year leading to higher survival rates for infants Cotton economy lead to more families being separated Families separated because it was profitable
Cotton brought international capital that helped finance Northern industry and trade South lagged behind in urban population, industrialization, canals and railroads By 1850, Mississippi and South Carolina had more slaves than whites
“ Cotton is King ” “ King Cotton ” Spread slavery across South as people moved west Huge profits for British textile manufacturers Accumulation of capital for industry in the North Land speculation – booms and busts in the economy – Indians pushed out of the way
Distinctive culture developed Lived in one-room cabins with dirt floors and few furnishings Received essentials for survival – food, clothing Often had to supplement with their own efforts
Life expectancy significantly lower than whites Slaves had to learn to avoid punishments and flatter whites Pretending to be happy, loyal & stupid Whites generally believed this was real loyalty and admiration
Often had to sacrifice their own family to care for the master ’ s family Better food and clothing More information about laws and policies of whites Gossip and news from other plantations
Needed on plantations as blacksmiths, coopers, grooms and drivers Furniture makers and general carpentry Shoe makers Longshoremen – load & unload boats Some worked in cities and had to turn over pay to masters Tredegar Iron Works – factory for slaves
Under constant white supervison 75% were field hands Worked all day – sunup to sundown Performed heavy labor
Slavery was more brutal in the lower South – Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana Black belt – more rich soil than the worn out soil in VA and Carolinas No hope of escape – most who escaped did so from the upper South where states bordered a free state Underground Railroad – Harriet Tubman
Slave marriage not recognized by law and not always respected by masters Marriages were more equal between husband and wife than white marriages Parents tried to give children a supportive network Separated children got support from other slave families and friends – “ fictive kin ”
The Great Awakenings had converted many slaves African religions were not allowed Whites hoped Christianity would make slaves more obedient Slaves likened spiritual freedom with physical freedom – the “ promised land ” and Moses leading his people from bondage were popular
More common than running away were other forms of resistance Running away close to home Work slowdowns Faking sick Damaging tools Arson Stealing
Gabriel Prosser – 1800 – blacksmith in Virginia Recruited about 1000 slaves and stockpiled weapons Betrayed by a follower and captured and hanged Denmark Vesey – 1822 – Free black – SC Organized in small independent cells Betrayed before plan could launch Nat Turner – only plot carried out – religious visions Killed between whites Captured and hanged
By 1860, nearly 250,000 free black people Most lived in countryside in upper South working as tenants or farm laborers In cities there were more free black artisans Free Blacks lacked basic civil rights Couldn ’ t be witnesses in court Couldn ’ t vote or make contracts
White - Merchants, Bankers, Lawyers Part of selling crops to the world market Lived in cities – shipping centers Viewed as money grubbing and dependent by the planters Many invested in land and slaves
2/3rds of all whites in the South lived in non- slaveholding families Self-sufficient farmers with strong sense of community – bartering Some owned slaves – in & out of slave owning depending on the economy – instability increases between 1830 and 1850 Supported politicians with rags-to-riches stories
Between 30-50% of Southern whites were landless Marginal existence Laborers and tenant farmers or overseers Free blacks and slaves were the only ones below them in the social structure
Most slave owners had only a few slaves and drifted in and out of owner status depending on the economy Yeoman farmers were looking to advance into the slave owning ranks
Isolated large plantations – needed to be as self- sufficient as possible Paternalistic view that the plantation is one big family – master was supreme over all Cultivated an image of gracious living but really required a lot of work to keep running smoothly See poor whites as a threat to the concept of white superiority
Elegant planter community – felt threatened by the Under –the-Hill community – fear slave rebellions Planters drive away the undesirables Natchez Under-the-Hill: rivermen, gamblers, Indians and Blacks
Had little to do since most work commonly done by women was assigned to slaves Supported slavery for the lifestyle it provided
Sexual exploitation of slave women Some long-term relationships – Thomas Jefferson & Sally Hemings Children of master-slave were not acknowledged and remained slaves
Slaves are treated more humanely than factory workers – at least they are guaranteed food and shelter and basic clothing and medical care Biblical slavery Classical slavery – Greece and Rome Constitution – 3/5 th s Compromise Slaves are childlike and must be taken care of as an inferior race
Gag Rule in Congress – no discussion of anti- slavery petitions Anti-slavery literature was confiscated and burned Laws restrict slaves meeting including for religious purposes without a white present Movements restricted Literacy curtailed
Some whites in South no longer support slavery but aren ’ t vocal about it Percentage of slaveholders declines with rising cost of slaves Widening class divisions