1. The antebellum south and Slavery
Chapter 12 and 13

2. Cotton and the Economy of the South
Cotton Gin 1793—cotton is king
Cotton production expanded tremendously
Other forms of agriculture (tobacco, rice, indigo, wheat) remained but became secondary to cotton
Early efforts at trade and industry faded away—South became dependent on agriculture and cotton (and slave labor) to sustain its economy
Oligarchic economy and society
Large plantations and slavery encouraged income inequality and domination of Southern society by a wealthy elite
Large plantations could produce goods at a lower cost (economy of scale) smaller farmers couldn’t compete and were bought out, forced west
Wealthy landowners dominated the economy, society, and politics of the South

3. Slavery and social divisions in the South
Most white southerners—about 75% did not own any slaves
Of the 25% of white southerners who did own slaves most owned only a handful
About one half of 1% of the Southern white population owned the majority of slaves in the South

4. Slavery and Social Divisions in the South (cont.)
Planter Elite—1-3% of white population
Top of the social ladder, owned large amounts of slaves, dominated society, politics, and the economy
Yeoman Farmers—20-25% of white population
Middle class
Independent farmers
Might own a handful of slaves might not own any
Poor Whites—70-75% of white population
Lower class
Owned no slaves
Worked on small farms in agriculturally unproductive areas of the South
Free Blacks—250,000
Freed slaves, slaves who had purchased their freedom, etc.
Precarious social and legal standing--had few legal rights, faced discrimination and harassment
Slaves—4 million
Other groups
Mountain whites
poor/middle class whites living in the Appalachian mountain region
Despised the planter elite and slaves
Urban Middle Class
Lawyers, artisans, skilled professionals
Owned few slaves

5. Why slavery? Paradox of slavery in the South
The majority of white southerners were hurt not helped by the slave system, why would they tolerate it in the South/fight to defend it during the Civil War and the years leading up to it?
Economic rationale for slavery
Slaves were viewed as necessary to sustain the cotton economy of the South, getting rid of slavery would further hurt the fragile Southern economy
Other justifications for slavery
Bring Christianity and “civilization” to Africans
Slaves in the South lived better than northern “wage slaves” in factories
Elimination of slavery would lead to racial violence

6. Slavery in the South
Slave trade outlawed in 1808—US slave population was self- sustaining
Slave owners had an economic incentive to treat slaves somewhat reasonably—excessive cruelty or violence would damage their “investment”
Daily routine
Physical labor during the daylight hours
Only a small % of slaves (less than 10%) worked in non-agricultural settings (domestic servants, some industry)
Women not only did the physical labor of male slaves but also had to maintain their households (cook, clean, care for their family, etc)
Culture and religion
Fusion of various African and European influences
Slaves were the target of evangelists during the Second Great Awakening

7. African Resistance to Slavery
Passive Resistance
Intentionally slowing production on plantations
Sabotaging equipment
Running away
Active Resistance: Slave rebellions
Gabriel’s Rebellion—Virginia 1800
Denmark Vessey (freed black)—Charleston SC 1822
Nat Turner’s Rebellion—Virginia 1831
All slave revolts failed
Irony of slave revolts
Led to more restrictions on freed blacks and slaves—prohibition of educating slaves for example
Led to harsh backlash against ideas of manumission, emancipation, and abolitionism
Made slave owners feel that their way of life was under attack, caused them to defend slavery even more forcefully than they did before

8. Abolitionism
Idea that slavery should be abolished immediately, everywhere
Causes of abolitionism?
2nd Great Awakening
Abolitionist movements in other countries—especially Great Britain (abolished slavery )
Who were the abolitionists?
Similar to other reforms of the antebellum era—middle class
Moral abolitionists—middle class (majority of abolitionists)
Self centered abolitionists—lower class, didn’t want to compete with slave labor (minority of abolitionists at first)
African Americans

9. Abolitionism Early abolitionism: American Colonization Society 1817
Liberia 1822
Popular during the 1830s and early 1840s
Problems with this idea?
Later abolitionism
William Lloyd Garrison, The Liberator
American Antislavery Society 1833
Black Abolitionists
Frederick Douglass—ex-slave, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Sojourner Truth—female ex-slave, worked for women’s rights and abolitionism
Abolitionist/Anti-slavery Political Parties
Liberty Party 1840, 1844 elections—mostly anti-slavery Whigs
Free Soil Party 1848—moral abolitionists, plus self-centered abolitionists
Republican Party 1854

10. Responses to Abolitionism (North and South)
Similar to southern response to slave revolts—led to a backlash against moderates who wanted to end slavery
Southern post-masters destroyed abolitionist literature sent in the mail
Abolitionists attacked, blamed for encouraging slave revolts
North
Most northerners were NOT abolitionists
Garrison, Douglass, Truth all attacked by angry mobs in the North, Elijah Lovejoy attacked and killed 1837
Why hostility to abolitionism in the North?
Economic ties to the South and slavery
Racism
Feared competition with freed blacks—especially among poor immigrants (Irish)