1. The Southern Class System
Team Amazon History

2. The Southern Class Pyramid
Planter Elite – 8%
Small Farmers – 8%
Poor Whites
50%
Free African-Americans – 2%
Enslaved African-Americans – 32%

3. The Planter Elite – 8% of population
Owned at least 20 Slaves
In 1860, 1 in 30 Southerners belonged to the planter family-Fewer than 1% owned more than 50 slaves
Wealthy families were called the “cottonocracy” Because they made huge amounts of money from cotton
A major responsibility was becoming politically involved and being a part of the leadership of the South

4. Small farmers – 8% of population
This group made up 8% of Southern whites
They owned the land they worked
Owned one or two slaves
A major responsibility was helping each other; often neighbors were miles apart

5. Poor Whites – 50% of population
They did not own the land they worked
They paid rent, often in crops
They lived in the hilly or wooded Areas of the South
Poor whites rarely grew cotton; they often grew crops such as corn, potatoes, other veggies

6. Free Blacks – 2% of population
Most were descended from slaves freed during the Revolutionary War
By 1860, 200,000 free blacks lived in the South
Free blacks were not allowed to vote, own property, serve on a jury, testify against whites in a trial, or travel long distances
Many free blacks forced to do menial labor—servant work that was almost like slavery

7. Black slaves – Slave codes
Laws to keep slaves from running away or rebelling
Forbidden to gather in groups of 3 Or more
Could not leave without a written pass
Not allowed to own a gun
Crime to learn to read and write

8. Worked from dawn until after dark
Black slaves - Work
Worked from dawn until after dark
Some whipped slaves to get a full day’s work

9. Did not recognize slave marriage
Black slaves - Family
Did not recognize slave marriage
Family was a source of strength, pride and love

10. Black slaves - Religion
By the 1800s, many African-Americans were devout Christians
Religion helped many deal with the horrors of slavery
Biblical stories of how Hebrew slaves escaped inspired many spirituals