Chapter 16 The South and the Slave Controversy The Cotton Kingdom The Peculiar Institution
“Cotton is King” Eli Whitney’s cotton gin ironically prolongs slavery Constitutionally international slave trade ended in 1808, but internal slave trade continued The Northern states were exporters of cotton, therefore tied to slaves economically England was great importer of American cotton, but also England was a nation of abolitionist
Southern socio-economic system The pyramid of power Non whites at longer end of pyramid Planter aristocrats 3% Small slaveholders / farmers Slaveless whites (75%) of white population self sufficient farmers…including “po white trash” that were often sick Mountain whites lived on frontier Freed blacks…despised by southern whites…laws enforced a second class status (in northern states also). Some (few) freed blacks owned slaves and fought for Confederacy. Indians below pyramid…forced WEST
Planter aristocracy Small percentage of southern people owned 100 plus slaves. They lived in stereotypical mansions and on large plantations. The super wealthy aristocrats controlled southern society, and educated children at private schools. Mistress of house ran plantation with overseer and various types of slaves
Plantation slavery One crop economy (wore out soil) King Cotton price level at mercy of world market North used raw material of cotton to build manufacturing base and advocate tariffs Immigrants by and large migrated to Northern states
Slave conditions 1808 international slave trade banned, but domestic one flourished 4 million slaves by 1860 (lots of natural reproduction) Slaves an investment…dangerous jobs done by immigrants or “po white trash”
Slave conditions Deep South of South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama and Louisiana accounted for half of all slaves “Sold Down the River” meant going to work in Deep South on rice / tobacco / indigo plantations Slave auctions were brutal affairs
Life under the lash Rape of women Broken families Laws aimed to protect slaves were not often enforced Adopted surname of a master Many slaves adopted Christian religion
Slave “rebellions” Work slower , break equipment, poison food Gabriel’s Rebellion of 1800 1822 rebellion of Denmark Vesey 1831 Nat Turner’s rebellion
Nat Turner’s Rebellion Nathaniel Turner (1800-1831) was a black American who organized and led the most successful slave revolt in the United States. Nat Turner was born a slave on Oct. 2, 1800, in Southampton County, Va. He preached to other slaves, counseling them to seek self-respect, to fight for justice, and to resist and rebel against the institution of slavery if they were to be free men. He believed that he was chosen by God to deliver his people from bondage and "slay my enemies with their own weapons.“ In 48 hours Turner and his followers killed between 55 and 65 whites throughout Southampton County.
Early Aboltionism 1817 American Colonization Society was founded to return slaves to Africa. Liberia founded under James Monroe’s administration 1830s Second Great Awakening spurs more abolitionism Quakers Theodore Weld’s Slavery As It Is
Radical Abolitionism 1829 David Walker’s Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World 1831 William Lloyd Garrison’s The Liberator Sojourner Truth fought for abolitionism
Frederick Douglas His Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas Conscience Whigs 1840 Liberty Party , 1848 Free Soil Party , Republican Party in 1860 Civil War was the price of Emancipation
How Southerners Supported Slavery The good of the “peculiar institution” Religion Northern Wage Slaves 1836 Congressional Gag Resolution (repealed in 1844)
Abolitionism in the North Extreme Abolitionist unpopular….Garrison survived mob in 1835 Unionist in North Economic connection with South (bank loans and cotton) Prejudice Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe