2. Cotton Boom Cotton Gin made cleaning cotton efficient The Cotton Gin made cleaning cotton more efficient – Designed for short-fibered cotton One worker went from cleaning 1 lb to 50 lbs a day One worker went from cleaning 1 lb to 50 lbs a day Made short-fibered cotton a commercial product Made short-fibered cotton a commercial product – Short-fibered grew all over the most of the south

3. After 1800, cotton rapidly emerged as the country’s most important export crop and quickly became the key to American prosperity.

5. Effect of the Cotton Engine (“Gin”) Cotton moved westward beyond the Atlantic Coast Cotton moved westward beyond the Atlantic Coast - into AL, MS, & eventually TX planters grew more of it than any other goods Cotton was so valuable, planters grew more of it than any other goods Cotton exports increased Growing cotton required land - Land was taken from Native Americans to be used for cotton plantations required a large work force = slavery Growing cotton required a large work force = slavery Growing cotton r rr required a large work force = slavery

6. Cotton production expanded westward between 1820 and 1860 into Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and western Tennessee forcing Native Americans off their land

7. Cotton production rose Cotton production rose – 1820 = $22 million from cotton exports – Late 1830’s = $200 million in exports – Late 1830’s = close to $200 million in exports A male field hand sold for $300 in 1790 A male field hand sold for $300 in 1790 – By 1830, he sold for $1,000 1808 – Foreign slave trade made illegal 1808 – Foreign slave trade made illegal – Compromise in the Constitution Domestic Slave trade Domestic Slave trade – Bought and sold in the US

8. This 1860 view of New Orleans captures the size and scale of the cotton trade in the South’s largest city. More than 3,500 steamboats arrived in New Orleans in 1860. Give Me Liberty!: An American History, 2nd Edition Copyright © 2007 W.W. Norton & Company

9. Because slave labor produced the cotton, increasing exports strengthened the slave system itself.

10. Slavery spread southwestward from the upper South and the eastern seaboard following the spread of cotton cultivation.

11. Slavery Expands King Cotton: cotton became the world’s main crop by slave labor King Cotton: cotton became the world’s main crop produced by slave labor Replaced sugar Replaced sugar 3/4 ths of the world’s cotton supply came from the southern U.S. 3/4 ths of the world’s cotton supply came from the southern U.S. Southern cotton supplied Northern textile mills & those in Great Britain Southern cotton supplied Northern textile mills & those in Great Britain After 1840, cotton production made the southern economy stronger & wealthier than the north economy After 1840, cotton production made the southern economy stronger & wealthier than the north economy

12. Most southern whites did not live in elegant mansions Most southern whites did not live in elegant mansions About 1/3 of whites owned slaves in 1840 About 1/3 of whites owned slaves in 1840 Majority of plantation owners had fewer than 10 slaves Majority of plantation owners had fewer than 10 slaves – Yeomen Only about 2% of blacks in the South were free Only about 2% of blacks in the South were free – Most in Washington, D.C. or Baltimore – Some had to leave their state once freed

13. Controlled social, political, and economic life in the south PlanterElite Planter Elite Middle Class Yeomen Tenant Farmers– Had No Slaves Slaves 20 or more slaves 4% 4% of white pop. 75% of white pop. 6-19 slaves 10% of white pop. 0-5 slaves 50-200 acre plantations 14% of white pop. Controlled social, political, and economic life in the south 32% of TOTAL pop.

14. Planter Elite Middle Class Yeomen Tenant Farmers– Had No Slaves Slaves 20 or more slaves 4% of white pop. 75% of white pop. 6-19 slaves 10% of white pop. 14% of white pop. Controlled social, political, and economic life in the south 32% of TOTAL pop. 0-5 slaves 50-200 acre plantations

15. Slave Life Few comforts except the bare necessities Few comforts except the bare necessities did not protect against family separation Laws did not protect against family separation Extended culture, fellowship, & community Extended their culture, fellowship, & community – Fused African & American elements to form new culture – Whites used religion to control slaves – By 1860, almost all enslaved were American born Found expression through religion & “spirituals” Found expression through religion & “spirituals” – Songs like “Go Down Moses” & “Wade in the Water”

17. Slave Rebellions Slaves resisted their work in many ways Slaves resisted their work in many ways -Breaking tools, working slow, feigning illness and injury, running away Nat Turner– led 70 followers before caught & hanged Nat Turner (1830) – led 70 followers before caught & hanged Slave codes were enforced to control enslaved people Slave codes were enforced to control enslaved people – Illegal to teach to read/write To prevent rebellion To prevent rebellion Some slaves did escape & make a better life for themselves Some slaves did escape & make a better life for themselves

18. Underground Railroad Underground Railroad – Network of escape routes from the South to the North – Traveled through the night on foot Harriet Tubman Harriet Tubman famous conductor – Most famous conductor of the Railroad Escaping Slavery