1. Chapter 9: The Old South, 1790-1850
AP US History
Chapter 9:
The Old South,

2. The Southeast The Chesapeake region was one of plantation farms
Main crop was tobacco, but eventually, the soil was destroyed, driving many to move to Kentucky or Tennessee
Began to grow corn, wheat, and raise livestock after tobacco profits fell
As the economy diversified, so did labor for slaves
Men still tended to fields and farm work
Women did many things, such as housemaids, candlemaking, sewing, etc.
The Lowcountry of Georgia and South Carolina expanded slavery into rice production
Very labor intensive
Used the task system to employ slaves, assigning a task to individuals

3. The Deep South and “King Cotton”
Cotton was a very labor intensive, unprofitable, but important, crop prior to the 1790s
Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin in 1793, which separated the cotton from the sticky seeds
Slaves that could clean one pound a day were now able to clean 50 pounds
Rather than using less slaves, more slaves were employed to grow more cotton, thus making more profit
After the War of 1812, widespread cotton cultivation occurred throughout the South
International slave trade ended in 1808, but interstate slave trade rapidly increased
Southern cotton plantations employed gang labor
Groups of slaves worked under an overseer growing cotton only
Worked long hours, did not enjoy any free time like those under the task system

4. The Yeoman Farmer
Only about 1/3 of whites in the south owned slaves by 1830, with the number decreasing more as time progressed
Cotton was not profitable on small farms
Most were too poor to buy slaves or good farmland
Yeoman farmers grew livestock and produced small plots that mostly provided for the family
Yeoman farmers lived in tight-knit neighborhoods
Depended on each other to provide basic needs
Debts were paid back through goods or labor
Lived without most luxuries

5. Slave/Master Relations
The plantation was only as successful as the relationship between the slaves and master
Rules were strict and the master was the ultimate authority
However, there was some give and take to give incentive to produce
Slaves lived in tight-knit family communities, but often were broken apart during slave auctions
Threat of sale was used often to encourage obedience
Marriages were respected by masters, but not by law
Slaves created their own customs, culture and religion
Religion blended old African traditions with modern practices
Gave slaves a sense of historical belonging

6. Slave Revolts
Rebellion and escape attempts common, but some outright revolts also occurred amongst the slave population
Gabriel’s Revolt
Led by a slave blacksmith named Gabriel
Planned to united slaves to overtake the city of Richmond
Weather and slave betrayal ended the rebellion
Denmark Vesey’s Revolt, 1822
Slaves would take the city of Charleston, SC
Ships would be taken and the escape would be on
Slave betrayal foiled the plot
Nat Turner Revolt, 1831
Nat Turner, a preacher, had a vision of leading a slave revolt
Killed 55 whites in the process
Eventually, the revolt was put down, but scared whites

7. Slavery and the Southern Economy
By 1860, slavery was the economy of the South
The South did not industrialize like the North
Did not take advantage of new technology
Relied on goods from within the South, did not purchase many goods from the North or abroad
Internal improvements were slow or non-existent
Railroad mileage much less than that of the North
Relied heavily on riverboats floated downstream from the North