Slavery Essential Question - PowerPoint Presentation

Slavery

Essential Question To what degree was the South developing as a distinctively different region from the rest of the United States during the period 1820 to 1860? To what degree did slavery shape life in the South during this period? (Consider political, economic, social and intellectual aspects of life in the South)

Characteristics of Antebellum South Primarily agrarian.Economic power shifted from the “upper South” to the “lower South.”“Cotton Is King!” * 1860 5 mil. bales a yr. (57% of total US exports).Very slow development of industrialization.Rudimentary financial system.Inadequate transportation system

The Agricultural Economy of the South,1860

Changes in Cotton Production 18201860

Value of Cotton Exports

Southern Population

Cotton Gin

Eli Whitney Invented cotton gin in 1793Removed the seed, cotton production now seen as profitable50% more efficient than picking by handCotton becomes main cash crop of southIncreased the need for slaves, unintended effect

Slavery Caused a cotton boom and the south became a cotton kingdomBlack Belt- cotton production moved into Georgia, Mississippi, AlabamaNecessary evil- even though slavery was morally wrong, it was an economic necessity

Slaves using a Cotton Gin

Southern Economy South became a monopolistic economy, dominated by wealthy plantation ownersIndustrial growth lagged behind the NorthSoutherners resentful the North made huge profits at their expenseSouth complained of northern middlemen, bankers, and shippersSouth resentful being so dependent on northern manufactures and marketsAttention was drawn away from the development of southern cities

Cotton/Slavery By 1804 most Northern states abolish slaveryCotton is king in SouthGreat demand for cotton from Britain and NorthPlantation System establishedSouth produces 80% of world’s cottonSlavery becomes entrenched

Weaknesses of Plantation System Relied on a one crop economyRepelled large scale European immigrationStimulated racism among poor whitesCreated an aristocratic political elite

Life under Slavery Small number of whites owned slaves, but they held the power in SouthGap widens between rich and poor, slave at bottom1808 importation of slaves is bannedPlantation slaves worked from dawn to duskSlaves are whipped, have little time for food, no rest breaks

Slave System Slave pop. 4 million by 1860, 4x as many in 1800Importation ended in 1808Slaves were treated as propertyThey were deprived of their African names, culture and religionAfricanism- survived as an African American subculture in music, religion and folkloreDeprived of their dignity

Treatment of Slaves Suffered cruel physical and psychological treatmentWere convinced they were inferior and deserved their lot in lifeSlaves were provided with limited diet, clothing, housing and medical careDiscipline by whip very commonHouse servants treated better than field workers75% worked as field handsIllegal to teach slaves to read and write- fear give slaves idea of freedom

Treatment of Slaves Slave pop. Increased due to breedingOwners rewarded slave women for having many childrenSexual abuse of female slaves commonWhite slave owners often fathered sizable mulatto population, most remained slavesMarriages were not recognizedSale of slaves did not respect family tiesSold down the river- meant being sold to owner in deep south

Slave Auction: Charleston, SC-1856

Slave Master BrandsSlave AccoutrementsSlave muzzle

Anti-Slave Pamphlet

Slave tag, SC Slave AccoutrementsSlave leg irons Slave shoes

Culture of slavery Black Christianity (Baptists)- very emotional servicesPidgin or Gullah languagesNuclear family with extended kin linksMusic very important- spirituals

Slave resistance Slowing down the workIsolated acts of sabotageEscaped via Underground railroadOrganized revoltsPoisoned food

Runaway Slave Ads

Slave Rebellions 1800 - Gabriel Prosser Richmond, VA1000 Slaves Plot revealed before revolt began 35 executed 1822 - Denmark VeseyFree Black living in CharlestonRumored 9000 followersPlot revealed before revolt beganLed to further suppression

Slave Rebellions 1833 – Nat Turner in VirginiaSlave PreacherKilled 60 white men, women, children100+ Slaves murdered in responseCaused widespread anxiety among plantation owners causing stricter black codes

Nat Turner’s Rebellion Led slave rebellion that killed 60 whitesTurner is hungMost successful slave revoltSouthern states create black codes- to tighten control on blacksFree African Americans as well as slaves lose rights

White Society and Culture Why did many southerners support the slave system when 75% didn’t own a slave?How did they justify slavery?Who did not support slave system?

Defense of Slavery Necessary evil-positive goodLegal-constitutionalHistory of Greece and RomeReligious The bibleBetter than wages in North- Wage SlavesPaternalistic view- necessary to protect blacks from mistreatment and abuse they would receive if free

Southern White ParanoiaFeared more revoltsInfuriated by abolitionists propagandaBelieved institution benefited both racesBiological racial superiority to justify slaveryGag Resolutions- southern fears of debate of anti-slavery appeals- prevented debate on abolition proposalsBlack Codes- banned from holding office, no jury trial, could not carry firearms

Planter Class Held enormous political power- less 10% of the populationOften viewed as AristocratsAdopted a code of chivalry

Southern Lady Subordinate to men- no rights except the right of protectionMinimal exposure to the public

“ Plain Folk”Subsistence Farmers“Yeoman Farmer”Inferior EducationLower Literacy RatesSubordinate to Upper Class

“Plain Folk” Minority “Hill people”Living in or west of AppalachiansIsolated from slave cultureExtremely poor whites Majority – Live around PlantationsDepend on upper class for economic support