1. Slavery as a Labor System I.The Peculiar Institution A.Extent B.Paternal Myths C.Capitalist Realities D.Southern society II.Slave Labor A.Agriculture B.House C.Manufacturing III.Without Consent or Contract A.Incentives B.Discipline C.Law IV.Resistance A.Buying Freedom B.Flight C.Revolt

2. Extent US population in 1840: –17,018,891 people –2,482,556 slaves –377,942 free blacks But slaves aren’t evenly distributed –SC has 594,398 people –327,038 are slaves

3. Paternal Myths George Fitzhugh –Conservatism –Responsibility

4. Capitalist Realities Southerners invest $4B in slaves $54B in constant dollars 1815– 2,500 slaves sold downriver

5. Society Structure –Planters –Yeomen –Poor whites –Slaves Work ethic

6. Agriculture Labor systems –Task Rice, indigo Absentee owners Free time –Gang Cotton Plantations Owner-managers Slave drivers Plantation economy –Produce food on-site –Grow cotton for cash –Buy finished goods from Northern US & Europe

7. House

8. Manufacturing Reasons for lack of industry –Status –Infrastructure –Cotton –Racial tension Tredegar Iron Works, Richmond--1865

9. Incentives Pride Better treatment Freedom –Some slaveholders free favored slaves, or permit them to buy their liberty.  –Not always rejecting slavery itself. Andrew Durnford –Free black planter with over 100 slaves. –But after 1800, fear leads states to restrict manumission and free blacks. Richard Allen (1760-1831) Founder AME church

10. Discipline Overseers can administer 50 lashes in the field without permission

11. Law Property Masters’ authority Work Movement

12. Flight

13. Revolt Slave conspiracy –NY—1712 Gabriel Prosser –VA—1801 Denmark Vesey –SC—1822 Nat Turner –VA—1831