1. The South and the Slavery Controversy
APUSH
Mrs. Housenick
11/19/12

2. Key Themes of the Civil War
Civil War as a test of nationhood
Economic and racial exploitation of slavery
Sectionalism
Conflict and compromise between North and South
War solidified Union and ended slavery
Question whether nation was truly “reconstructed”

3. King Cotton Slavery reinvigorated after cotton gin in 1793
Cotton Kingdom of South was huge agricultural factory
Northerners also profited from shipping and manufacturing
Foreign nations dependent on Southern cotton
This made South arrogant

4. The Planter “Aristocracy”
South as an oligarchy—government by the few
Small group of planter aristocracy owned most slaves, provided political and social leadership of South
Undemocratic system—poor in South denied tax-supported education
Southern planters trying to protect feudal society

5. Negatives of the slave system
Plantation agriculture wasteful
Economy in South encouraged monopolies
Financial instability in system—lots of debt
South dangerously dependent on one crop economy, no manufacturing of own
South also repelled immigrants

6. Southern Society (1850) “Slavocracy” [plantation owners] 6,000,000
The “Plain Folk” [white yeoman farmers]
Black Freemen
250,000
Black Slaves 3,200,000

7. Whites in the South
Small minority rich slave-owners—they owned the most slaves
Next was smaller slave-owners—most slave owners had only 1-2 slaves, masters worked with slaves
Whites without slaves—redneck, subsistence farmers
Often strongest supporters of slavery!!!
Mountain whites—in Appalachians, hated planters and slaves, would work with Union during war.

8. Southern Population

9. Free Blacks in South
In upper South, some blacks freed after Revolution
In deep South, free blacks mainly mulattoes—freed by their master/father, some purchased freedom
Treated as “third race”

10. Free Blacks in North Also unpopular
Forbidden entrance to some states, kept from vote, and public schools
Often tensions with immigrants in North

11. Plantation Slavery By 1860—4 million slaves Slaves seen as investment
Most from reproduction
Slaves seen as investment
Slaves were often forced to breed or sold in auction
Families were separated often

12. Life Under the Lash
Conditions varied depending on region and plantation
Everywhere slaves had no political or civil rights
Whippings common
Slave life hardest in Deep South (South Carolina-Georgia)
Slave life most stable on large plantations—family life stable, slave culture developed

13. Slave Accoutrements
Slave Master Brands
Slave muzzle

14. Slave Accoutrements
Slave leg irons
Slave tag, SC
Slave shoes

15. Anti-Slave Pamphlet

16. Slave Auction Notice, 1823

17. Slave Auction: Charleston, SC-1856

18. Slaves posing in front of their cabin on a Southern plantation.

19. A Slave Family

20. Slave Resistance
“SAMBO” pattern of behavior used as a charade in front of whites [the innocent, laughing black man caricature – bulging eyes, thick lips, big smile, etc.].

21. Slave Resistance Refusal to work hard. Isolated acts of sabotage.
Escape via the Underground Railroad.

22. Runaway Slave Ads

23. Quilt Patterns as Secret Messages
The Monkey Wrench pattern, on the left, alerted escapees to gather up tools and prepare to flee; the Drunkard Path design, on the right, warned escapees not to follow a straight route.

24. Slave Rebellions in the Antebellum South
Gabriel Prosser 1800
BOTH FAILED!!!!
1822

25. Slave Rebellions in the Antebellum South: Nat Turner, 1831
-- Killed about 60 whites

26. The Culture of Slavery
Black Christianity [Baptists or Methodists]: * more emotional worship services. * negro spirituals.
“Pidgin” or Gullah languages.
Nuclear family with extended kin links, where possible.
Importance of music in their lives. [esp. spirituals].

27. Southern Pro-Slavery Propaganda