King Cotton South produced more than ½ the world’s cotton Prosperity of both N, S, and Britain depended on cotton (and slaves) N shippers reaped profit from trade South was aware that Britain was economically dependent on cotton “Cotton was King” Gave South power

Planter “Aristocracy” Before Civil War, South was more of an oligarchy than a democracy – “Cottonocracy” 1850 – 1,733 families owned >100 slaves Provided political and social leadership Effects: Widened gap b/w rich and poor Hampered public schooling – rich sent children to private schools Southern Women Control (large household staffs) No bonds of womanhood – slaveholding women rarely supported abolition and did not protest when husbands split slave families

Slaves and the Slave System Plantation agriculture was wasteful Excessive cultivation or “land butchery” Led to exodus of population to N and NE Monopolistic Small farmers sold holdings to others and left Big get bigger, Small get smaller Financial Instability of Plantation System Over-speculation of lands and slaves Dangerous dependence on one-crop economy No diversification of agriculture or manufacturing Repelled European immigration Competition with slave labor High cost of fertile land Europeans didn’t know how to grow cotton

The White Majority Only about ¼ owned or belonged to slave owning families 1,733 families own > 100 slaves Smaller slave-owners usually lived on modest farms and worked beside their few slaves Whites who owned no slaves, Subsistence farmers Had no direct stake in continuing slavery, but were some of the most active supporters. Why?

Free African Americans Most free African Americans in the south were mulattoes (freed children of a white planter) Some purchased their freedom Many free blacks owned property (New Orleans) Some owned slaves (however, very few) Unpopular in South and North Irish competition for jobs Anti-black feelings were often stronger in North than South Spread of slavery = prejudice

Plantation Slavery Legal importation of African slaves ended in 1808 Significance? Smuggling Natural Reproduction! Slaves were seen as investments By 1860 – Deep south states (SC, FL, MS, AL, LA) were over 50% African American Also had about ½ of ALL slaves in the south Division of families on auction block Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin

Life Under the Lash Conditions varied for slaves No civil or political rights Marriages not legally recognized Floggings However, lash marks hurt resale value Typical planter had too much of his own prosperity riding on the backs of his slaves Forced Separation of Families More common on smaller plantations AA were able to sustain family life – most raised in stable two-parent homes Maintained cultural roots Did not intermarry (unlike planter aristocracy) Religion – mixture of African and Christian elements

Fighting back Slaves were denied dignity and education. No sense of responsibility or independence – stripped from them. 9/10 of adult salves were illiterate in How did they rebel? Slowed labor Stole food and other goods Sabotaged equipment Poisoned mater’s food Ran away Armed insurrection Gabriel – Richmond, VA – 1800 Denmark Vesey – Charleston, SC – 1822 Nat Turner – VA

Early Abolitionism Anti-slavery societies Quakers – American Revolution Some believed in transporting back to Africa American Colonization Society (1817) Republic of Liberia (1822) Appealed to early antislavery crowd like Lincoln Abolition gains momentum 1833 – Britain frees West Indies slaves 2 nd Great Awakening Grew more radical – William Lloyd Garrison w/ The Liberator and Frederick Douglas

South Responds to Calls for Abolition VA legislature debated (and defeated) several emancipation propositions in Slave states tightened their slave codes Slavery Supporters Respond Slavery was supported by the Bible Good for Africans Happier in the south than working in the North Fresh air Sunlight No worries of unemployment Cared for in their old age

Abolitionist Impact Endangered free speech Gag Resolution – anti-slavery appeals are to be tabled w/out debate (right of petition) Postmasters ordered to destroy abolitionist material (freedom of press) Abolitionists (radical ~ Garrison) were unpopular in the North Northerners revered the Constitution talk of succession angered many in the North – created disorder Economically tied to the South $300 million in loans to the South Cotton to NE textile mills By 1850, abolitionists had made impact However, many N did not support outright abolishment Opposed extending it to the western territories