THE SOUTH AND THE SLAVERY CONTROVERSY, Chapter 16

Cotton is King  In 1787 many in both south and the north thought that slavery was on its way out.  Reasons?  Impact of Eli Whitney’s cotton gin.  Seeds no longer removed by hand

King Cotton  Cotton becomes dominant cash crop in south, especially in the gulf bottom lands.  Southern planters buy new land and slaves aggressively  Northern shippers make big profits shipping.  Britain highly dependent on American cotton.  Britain’s most important product in the 1850s was cotton cloth.  About 75% of its cotton came from US.  1/5th of Britain’s workers directly or indirectly got livelihood from cotton processing. p351

Southern Cotton Production, 1860

Changes in Cotton Production

The Planter “Aristocracy”  Before the Civil War planter aristocracy controls government in the South.  Planter Aristocracy at the top. 1850, only 1733 families owned more than 100 slaves. Cream of the political and social leadership.  Owned the lion’s share of the wealth.  Shaped the lives of southern women  System retarded economic development. Why?

Slaves Of The Slave System  Problems with plantation system:  Hard on the land  Economy was monopolistic  System was economically unstable  World prices of cotton  Over speculation  Led to a dangerous dependence on one crop  South lacked diversity  Discouraged manufacturing  Southern planters present northern middlemen, bankers, agents and shippers

Slave-Owning Population (1850)  Below the 1733 leading families were the less wealthy slave owners. 345,000 families representing 1.7 Mill people in  Over 2/3 owned fewer than 10 slaves.  Maj. of whites didn’t own slaves

Whites Without Slaves  Majority  Mostly subsistence farmers on poorer land  Bottom of group: “Poor white trash”, “rednecks”, “crackers” – but used to a tough life and the outdoors, they will make great soldiers  Had no stake in the slave economy, but were some of the strongest supporters of the system  Why?  Mountain whites: very poor, resented slavery, “Hillbillies”

Free Blacks: Slaves Without Masters  By 1860 there were about 250,000 free blacks  Societies’ attitude toward them.  Risk of being high-jacked back into slavery.  Attitude in the North  Northern v. Southern view of blacks The house of the Mirault family, prominent free family of color in Antebeullum Savannah Henry and Elizabeth Cunningham were free persons of color built the above house in It lies across the street from Second African Baptist Church, founded in 1802, where Reverend Cunningham was pastor from 1803 to 1842.

Plantation Slavery  4 Million black slaves  Basement of southern society.  Numbers had quadrupled since  Important source of wealth  Stagnated the southern economy.  By 1830 slavery was primarily located in the South, African Americans were enslaved on small farms, large plantations, in cities and towns, inside homes, out in the fields, and in industry and transportation  Fully 3/4 of Southern whites did not own slaves; of those who did, 88% owned twenty or fewer.

Southern Population (1860)

Distribution of Slaves, 1860

Slave Life  Hard work, ignorance and oppression  No political or legal rights. Many places illegal to teach reading.  By 1860 most slaves concentrated in the Deep South.  While most engaged in agricultural work, they worked as mechanics, blacksmiths, drivers, carpenters, and in other skilled trades. Black women carried the additional burden of caring for their families by cooking and taking care of the children, as well as spinning, weaving, and sewing.  Some slaves worked as domestics, providing services for the master's or overseer's families.

Slave Life  Planters patriarchal  Slave beatings last resort  Most slaves in stable two parent household  Kept cultural roots  No political or civil rights  Property under the law.

Slave Rebellions  The few slave rebellions were not successful. Often informed upon by other slaves.  The New York Slave Revolt of 1712  Gabriel in Richmond  Denmark Vesey, Charleston in  Most famous was rebellion by Nat Turner in Va. in Significance Significance

Early Abolition  Early abolitionism. Quakers.  American Colonization Society (1817) Liberia freed blacks transported to Africa James Madison, Daniel Webster, James Monroe, Stephen Douglas, John Randolph, William Seward, Francis Scott Key, General Winfield Scott, John Marshall and Roger Taney.  Why don’t more American Blacks go back to Africa?.

Growth of Abolition  In the 1830s abolitionist turned into a crusade.  Head of Lane Theological Seminary, hotbed of early abolitionism. Very influential and father of Harriet Beecher Stowe Her novel Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852) energized anti-slavery forces in the American North, while provoking widespread anger in the South. Henry Ward Beecher a prominent Congregationalist clergyman, social reformer, abolitionist, and speaker in the mid to late 19th century Catharine Beecher American educator known for her forthright opinions on women’s education as well as her vehement support of the many benefits of the incorporation of kindergarten into children's education

Radical Abolition  1831 William Lloyd Garrison burst onto the scene. young  His view on slavery.  Published militant abolitionist magazine: The Liberator.  Founded the American Anti- Slavery Society in "I do not wish to think, or speak, or write, with moderation.... I am in earnest -- I will not equivocate -- I will not excuse -- I will not retreat a single inch -- AND I WILL BE HEARD."

Black Abolitionists  Sojourner Truth Slave in New York Spoke only Dutch until 10  David Walker—Militant.  Frederick Douglas Greatest of the Black abolitionists escaped from bondage in 1838 at 21. Protégé of Garrison Frequently mobbed by northerners Frederick Douglas That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain't I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne five children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman?

The South Lashes Back  Before 1830:  More anti-slavery societies in south than north  Southerners openly debated merits of slavery.  After 1830 debate in South ends and many southerners defend as positive good. What changed?  Nat Turners rebellion in 1831  Nullification Crisis  Reaction to Northern criticism  Southern preachers arguing that slavery supported by Bible

The Abolitionist Impact In The North  Abolitionists were not particularly popular in the North for some time. Why?  North had heavy stake in the cotton of the south.  Textile mills relied on southern cotton.  Many northerners feared political controversy.  Northern politicians distanced themselves from the abolitionists.  Abolitionists harassed  Yet, by 1850 abolitionism had gained strength and taken root as a popular cause.

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