1. Topic #31

2.  Famous, not only for the interchangable parts, but the cotton gin as well. Pulled cotton from seeds.

3.  Cotton production exploded in the South. Many feared, however, that reliance on only cotton was dangerous.  Leaders wanted southerners to invest in a variety of cash crops.  Corn  Tobacco  Rice  Hemp

4.  Antebellum (Pre Civil War) South.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4c5AoqUIZ U  Very few families had large amounts of slaves – most couldn’t afford them. However, despite small numbers, planters had a large influence. Planters were wealthy plantation owners who had lots of land/slaves.  Planters had large mansions and large cotton fields. Men concerned with running of the plantation, women with the children. Slaves handled the rest.

8.  Most white southerners were called yeomen (owners of small farms).  Typical farmer had about 100 acres. Farming was seen as the most noble of all pursuits.  “I desire above all things to be a ‘Farmer.’ It is the most honest, upright, and sure way of securing all the comforts of life.”

9.  On large plantations, slaves were assigned specific tasks and most work in the fields.  Slave drivers, typically slaves themselves, made sure slaves followed orders and carried out punishments.

11.  Both family and religion played a major role in white and black culture.  White slave owners would use religion to justify slavery, while slaves would compare themselves to the Hebrew slaves in the Old Testament who had faith they would one day live free.

12.  Folktales, stories with a moral, would teach lessons about how to survive under slavery.  For example – Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby.

13.  Many white southerners lived in constant fear of a slave revolt.  They passed laws, called slave codes, to keep slaves in check  Prohibiting slaves from traveling  Literacy laws  Prohibited education (fining and whipping anyone caught teaching enslaved people to read/write)  Nat Turner led a slave rebellion (believed God told him to end slavery). Killed around 60 white people. More than 100 innocent slaves were killed trying to stop Nat Turner. He led the police on a 6 week chase until he was finally caught and executed.