Divine Chapter 11: Slaves and Masters

Divided Society of the Old South Southern agrarian way of life depended on slavery to survive Prominence of slavery between 1790 up to the Civil War caused racial tension Sharp divide between free whites and slaves The “Old South” was structured by a class system and a caste system

Old South Hierarchy Class System Caste System Differences in social status based upon wealth and access to productive resources Inherited advantages and disadvantages based purely on racial background

Southern White Society Elite Planter Class Other Whites Large plantation owners dominated Southern society Lived in the Cotton Belt (AL, MS, LA, GA,TX) Planters were a minority, 4% of population ¾ of Southern white population owned no slaves Yeoman farmers Lived in the frontier or hill areas About 20% of population owned 20 slaves or fewer

Divisions Among African Americans There was a slight division among African Americans South → plantations, field workers North → industry/factories, personal servants But these divisions were not the same as whites Rather all slaves no matter location united for the common goal of freedom

The World of Southern Blacks Unlike Caribbean plantations, slaves in the US lived in close contact with their masters This made autonomy among slave communities almost impossible Masters used physical and psychological means to control their slaves Masters contorted Christianity to convince slaves whites were superior Slaves developed an inner strength and resolve to deal with harsh conditions

Daily Life and Labor of a Slave Slaves comprised nearly ½ the pop. in the “Cotton Belt” or “Black Belt” Common jobs: Field work Built houses Worked on boats and mills Cooking Cleaning Childcare

Slave Labor Continued Gang System Task System Most common on large plantations in Cotton Belt Worked in large “gangs” Supervised by an overseer 6 days a week Year-round labor Mortality rates were higher on sugar and cotton plantations Harsh working conditions Common on rice plantations Smaller plantations Slaves worked in “task groups” Work at slower pace Less supervision Worked side by side with masters

Slave Family and Community African American families were extremely strong Large, stable plantations had more families Long-lasting marriages were common

Family/Community Continued Masters encouraged marriage for Christian principle and to produce more slaves Small plantations/farms were quite different: Mother-centered families Parents usually split between different farms Threat of family break-up used as behavior management Uncertainty of being sold

Kinship and Extended Family Strong sense of immediate family But also a very strong sense of kinship that extended over generations Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins were extremely pivotal in the sense of community and tradition among slaves When slaves were sold, adopted into new “kinship families” Affection ties rather than blood relative among slave communities Kinship created a vehicle for African American tradition and a way to preserve their culture

African American Religion Religion was the foundation/cornerstone for African American culture Did not experience Christianity in a traditional church setting Very few independent black churches- African Methodist Episcopal Church Large plantation masters often conducted Sunday services

Slave Christianity Resembled more like a revival Singing, dancing, shouting Sermons spoke directly to the plight of slaves Songs were often derived from the book of Exodus Bible offered hope of freedom and punishment of masters http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JtD_YpyXYU&feature=related

Rebellion 1800- Gabriel Prosser led a violent march in Richmond, VA. 1811- Thousands of slaves led violent rebellion in New Orleans; militia called to stop slaves 1822- Denmark Vesey, a free black man plans conspiracy to raid local armories and start rebellion 1831- Nat Turner’s Rebellion

Nat Turner’s Rebellion 1831, preacher/prophet Nat Turner started rebellion 2 day killing rampage Over 60 whites murdered Rebels and slaves were captured and executed

Rebellion Continued News of Nat Turners Rebellion struck fear and panic into slave holders Caused northern abolitionists like William Lloyd Garrison to emerge Forced slave masters to enact laws that severely limited slaves rights Laws also quelled dissenters and critics of slavery from speaking out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jz_y6r3tU68&feature=related

Rebellion Sweeping the Nation

Resistance Majority of slaves never participated in open rebellion Passive resistance Defiance Runaway Underground Railroad http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1y8QceVBOw&feature=related Sabotage Stealing from the master Faking illness or stupidity Poisoning master/family

Free Blacks in the Old South Free blacks in the South considered “semi-slave” Required to carry papers and have white guardian Strict laws forced free blacks into a position similar to slavery Tried to work for abolition movement, if possible Freedom was constantly at risk Fugitive slave laws threatened free blacks even in the North