1. Chapter 16: The South and Slavery AP U.S. History 1

2. King Cotton After the gin was invented, growing cotton became wildly profitable and easier – more slaves were needed The South produced more than half the world’s supply of cotton – Held an advantage over countries like England, which needed cotton to make cloth, etc… The South believed that since England was so dependent on them that – If civil war was to ever break out, England would support the South that it so heavily depended on 2

3. Planter Aristocracy In 1850 – 1733 families owned more than 100 slaves each – They were the wealthy aristocracy of the South, with big houses and huge plantations The Southern aristocrats widened the gap between the rich and poor – Hampered public-funded education by sending their children to private schools 3

4. Planter Aristocracy Saw themselves as the true heirs to royalty of Europe – The South’s favorite author was Sir Walter Scott Author of Ivanhoe – Helped them idealize a feudal society with them as the kings and queens and the slaves as their subjects 4

5. Planter Aristocracy The plantation system shaped the lives of the southern women – Mistresses of the house commanded a sizable household of mostly female slaves who cooked, sewed, cared for the children, and washed things – Mistresses could be kind or cruel, but all of them did at one point or another abuse their slaves to some degree; there was no “perfect mistress.” 5

6. Slaves of the Slave System Cotton production – Allowed quick and high profits – spoiled the earth – the land was ruined, and cotton producers were always in need of new land – Led to small farmers selling their land to large landowners who needed the acreage 6

7. Slaves of the Slave System The temptation to over- speculate in land and in slaves caused many planters to plunge deep into debt – Slaves were valuable, but they were also a gamble, since they might run away or be killed by disease 7

8. Slaves of the Slave System The dominance of King Cotton likewise led to – A one-crop economy whose price level was at the mercy of world conditions Southerners resented the Northerners who got rich at their expense – They were dependent on the North for clothing, food, and manufactured goods The South repelled immigrants from Europe, who went to the North, making it richer 8

9. The White Majority Beneath the aristocracy – Whites that owned one or two slaves – Usually worked along side their slaves in the fields – Absent the slaves, these farmers were much like their northern neighbors 9

10. The White Majority ¾ of the white population of the South was slave less – They disliked the aristocracy and often were upset by their snobbery – They raised corn and hogs and live simply and poorly 10

11. The White Majority Some of the poorest whites were known as – Poor white trash – Hillbillies – Clay eaters It was believed at the time that these people were lazy and unmotivated – We now know that poor diet and malnutrition played a part in their appearance and work habits 11

12. The White Majority Even slave less whites defended the slavery system – They hoped to one day own slaves – No matter how poor and pitiful they were, they were better than slaves Mountain whites – Lived in more rugged area Disliked aristocrats and blacks Were not in favor of secession 12

13. Free Blacks: Slaves Without Masters By 1860, there were about 250,00 free blacks in the South – In the upper south, many were descended from slaves freed after the revolutionary war – In the deep south, most were mulattoes (black mother, white father often the master) who were usually freed when their master died 13

14. Free Blacks: Slaves Without Masters Free blacks in the south were – Forbidden from working in certain industries – Testifying against whites in court – Denied the right to vote Most whites resented the free blacks 14

15. Free Blacks in the North Were unpopular – Some states denied them entrance – Most were denied the right to vote – Most were barred from public schools – Were especially hated by the Irish with whom they competed for jobs 15

16. Free Blacks Anti-black feeling was stronger in the north than it was in the south – Northerners liked the race, but not the individual – Southerners liked the individual (whom the had grown up with), but not the race 16

17. Plantation Slavery By 1860 there were approximately 4 million slaves in the South – Most of the growth was due to natural reproduction – The importation of slaves was outlawed in 1808 leading to a small amount of smuggling 17

18. Plantation Slavery Slaves were an investment – They were not exposed to the most dangerous jobs on the plantation – Irish immigrants or poor whites were used for the most dangerous work Roofing, draining swamps, blasting caves 18

19. Plantation Slavery Slaves constituted a majority or near majority of the population in several states – SC, FL, MS, AL, LA The breeding of slaves was not encouraged, but women were often promised freedom if they had ten or more children 19

20. Plantation Slavery Slave auctions – Were brutal – Slaves were inspected like animals – Families were often separated – Little thought was given to their being people, they were property 20

21. Slave Life Varied from place to place but followed the same basic pattern – Hard work – No political or civil rights – Could and would be whipped if orders weren’t followed – Lash beatings were not that common as the “lessened the worth” of the slave 21

22. Slave Life Forced separation of families was more common among small slave owners than the large Most slaves lived in stable two parent households – Often three generations of slaves were present at large plantations – Marriage was encouraged, and unlike the white planters, slaves avoided marrying first cousins 22

23. Slave Life Slaves mixed the Christian religion with their own native religions – They sang Christian hymns as signals or codes Some songs represented a chance for freedom Some songs emphasized bondage (“let my people go.”) 23

24. Burdens of Bondage Slaves had – No privacy – No dignity – Were mostly illiterate – Locked out of improving their station in life Would often devise ways to make trouble without getting punished – Work as slowly as possible without getting whipped – Stealing food and sabotaging expensive equipment – Occasionally poising the food of their masters 24

25. Burdens of Bondage Slave revolts – Gabriel Presser, Denmark Vesey, Nat Turner – They were never successful, but heightened the whites greatest fear – Led to tightened rules and laws 25

26. Abolition Early abolition – American Colonization Society Founded in 1817 Purpose was the transport blacks back to Africa Republic of Liberia was formed by 1822 – Most blacks had no desire to be transplanted to a strange civilization, they had been “Americanized” – By 1860 almost all slaves were native-born African Americans 26

27. Abolition Second Great Awakening – Created a new interest in abolition – Theodore Dwight Weld Began to preach against the evils of slavery Developed a large following Wrote a pamphlet against the practice of slavery – American Slavery as it is 27

28. Radical Abolitionism William Lloyd Garrison – Published the first edition of The Liberator in 1831 – Would continue to publish his paper until the end of the Civil War – Only subject of this paper was the ending of slavery 28

29. Radical Abolitionism Wendell Phillips – Boston Patrician known for his abolitionist stance – Refused to wear cotton or eat cane sugar, since both came from slave labor David Walker – Black abolitionist – Wrote Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World in 1829 – Advocated a bloody revolt to end slavery 29

30. Radical Abolitionism Sojourner Truth – A freed black woman who fought for both slaves rights and women’s rights Frederick Douglas – Freed black – Great writer and orator who fought for the ending of slavery Was constantly beaten and harassed for his beliefs 30

31. South Fights Abolition The South began a campaign to counteract the abolition movement Talked about the positive good created by slavery – Masters taught their slaves religion, making them happy – Slaves would be taken care of for life, unlike free slaves in the north who were often harassed 31

32. The North and Abolition Not all in the North liked the abolitionist movement – The south owed the north around 300 million by 1850 – The north needed southern cotton for their textile mills – Mobs often destroyed the homes or businesses of the abolitionists, even killing one man Elijah Lovejoy who became a martyr for the movement 32