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Published bySharlene Welch Modified over 6 years ago
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Topic: Assessing the role of Slavery in the Antebellum South (1800-1850s)
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Slavery in Economic Terms
Pre 1790s: Slavery used for tobacco, rice, etc. Becoming unprofitable Overseas Slave Trade Banned in 1808 Role of Eli Whitney Over-use of soil Spread of the “Cotton Kingdom” throughout Gulf States “Deep South” – Alabama, Mississippi, Lousiana ½ of all American exports Northern shipping Britain’s cotton “dependency” Cotton: Gold or Mirage? Cash Crop instability
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“Feudal” Southern Society
Most slaveholders owned only a handful of slaves Stratified Southern Society Upper Class: Oligarchy of Elites Planter aristocracy Disproportionately wealthy, relatively few in number Buying the best lands “refined southern gentleman” Leisure, education, travel Time for politics Role of women 1,800 aristocrats Lower Class: the Majority Most owned NO slaves at all (3/4 of the population) Small holders had 2-4 slaves “Poor white trash” stereotype
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Rationale for slavery Economics Racism Class Structure Paternalism
States’ Rights issue Society with Slaves vs. Slave Society
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Slave Life Business of Slavery Life on a Plantation 4 million by 1860
“Chattel Slavery” Reproduction as the source Slave Auctions Life on a Plantation Varied conditions Vulnerable families Distinctions among slaves Extra Labor Compensation Mixture of culture, religion Education forbidden Slave Rebellions Gabriel (1800) D. Vessey (1822) Nat Turner (1831)
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Conclusion “If you put a chain around the neck of a slave, the other end fastens itself around your own”. –Ralph Waldo Emerson How does toady’s lesson prove/disprove the above statement? Explain your reasoning in 3-4 sentences.
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