“All day and almost all night long, the captain, pilot, crew and passengers were talking of nothing else; and sometimes our ears were so wearied with the sound of cotton! Cotton! Cotton! That we gladly hailed fresh… company in hopes of some change---but alas!... ‘What’s cotton at?’ was the first eager inquiry.”

In 1793 Eli Whitney invented this remarkable machine that deseeded the seeds from the cotton fiber. One slave could now do the work of 50 slaves. Slavery became more profitable than ever and the Cotton Kingdom quickly spread.

Cotton Production and Slavery

8% 50% 32% 2% 50% 8% Owners of 5 or more slaves Owners of 1-4 slaves Whites who owned no slaves Free African- Americans Slaves

Planters who made huge amounts of money from growing cotton. In 1860, only 1 white southerner in 30 owned more than 20 slaves. Less than 1% owned more than 50 slaves. Many planters became political leaders and helped to run the South.

75% of southern WHITES were small farmers. They owned 1-4 slaves. Small farmers worked with their slaves in the fields.

Poor whites did not own the land that they farmed. Poor whites rented the land from planters and paid them with crops. They had very hard lives and were often treated worse than slaves.

In 1860, over 200,000 free African Americans lived in the South. Slave owners disliked free African-Americans. They feared it set a bad example for their slaves. They were not allowed to vote or to travel. Most lived in Delaware or Maryland where slavery was in decline.

By 1860, slaves made up 33% of the South’s population. The life of slaves was run by laws called slave codes.slave codes Slaves worked long, hard days.long, hard days They relied on their family and religion to give them strength.familyreligion There were several rebellions against slavery.rebellions

Slave Codes were made to keep slaves from running away or rebelling. Under slave codes, slaves could not: 1. gather in groups of more than three 2. leave their owners land without a written pass 3. own guns 4. learn how to read and write 5. testify in court Southerners viewed slaves as property and did not want them to escape.

Slaves worked from “can see to can’t see,” or from dawn to dusk. Most slaves worked up to 16 hours a day. Some owners and overseers whipped their slaves to get a full day’s work. Southerners felt that African slaves were lazy and unintelligent when in actuality they should be looked at as very smart as they would sabotage their work stations, work “slow”, and “act” stupid so as to waste their master or overseers time. Only 4 of every 100 slaves could expect to live to 60 due to their poor treatment and diet. The worst part was slaves complete loss of freedom.

Southern laws did not allow official slave marriages. Owners could sell a husband and wife to different buyers. Children were often taken from their parents and sold. On large plantations, many slave families stayed together forming an Extended Family. Parents often taught their children traditional African stories and songs.

Planters often allowed white ministers to teach their slave to be Christians. Religion helped slaves cope with the hardships of the day. As they worked in the fields, slaves often sang Biblical songs: “We need not always weep and moan, Let my people go. And wear these slavery chains forlorn, Let my people go.”

Slaves struck back against their owners differently. 1. Some slaves broke tools, destroyed crops, and stole food. 2. Many tried to escape to the North through the Underground 3. Some slaves used violence to fight back against slaveryviolence Railroad. Despite the resistance, slavery remained in the South until the Civil War.

Denmark Vesey 1. He planned a slave revolt in Vesey was betrayed by fellow slaves before the revolt 3. He and 35 other people were executed happened. Nat Turner’s Rebellion 1. In 1831, Nat Turner led a revolt in Virginia 2. His group killed 57 white southerners. 3. He and his followers were captured and hanged.

Causes of the American Civil War States Rights – states should have the authority to refuse federal laws and guidelines Tariffs – taxes placed on imports. The affect of high tariffs was that the South would not sell as much cotton to foreign nations, and the cost of imported manufactured goods would go up. To the South it was a loose loose situation. Slavery – used to make plantations profitable Sectionalism – values depending on what part of the country (section) you are from.

History of Slavery in America first Africans brought to America During revolution and early years of the republic, several states abolished slavery on their own as it was not profitable. Morality played little part in this – Fugitive Slave laws passed requiring runaway slaves to be returned to their owners 1793 – Eli Whitney’s invention of the Cotton Gin makes cotton production VERY PROFITABLE Louisiana is purchased and causes concern about the expansion of slavery in the United States

History of Slavery in America By 1805 all Northern States have abolished slavery – again more due to profitability than moral beliefs 1808 – based on the Constitution, the slave trade (importing slaves from another country) is outlawed – Missouri Compromise attempts to establish a line where slavery can exist in the frontier ( minutes North latitude; also establishes the underlying principal of maintaining the balance between slave and free states- i.e. entering the union one free and one slave at a time) 1821-The Society for the Colonization of Free People of Color of America (American Colonization Society) is established to take free Africans to newly established Liberia on the West Coast of Africa Nat Turner’s revolution – 57 White Virginians killed 1833 – England abolishes slavery – seen as an act worthy of following as England is seen by the rest of the world as the most progressive nation on the planet.

Missouri Compromise

History of Slavery in the United States 1850-Compromise of 1850 which provided for strict enforcement of Fugitive Slave laws and outlawed slave trade in Washington D.C Uncle Toms Cabin is written. Bringing great sympathy to the plight of the slaves Republican party formally organized…supporting the idea of containing slavery where it exists and not permitting expansion Dred Scott decision by Supreme Court Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas run for a seat in the U.S. Senate from Illinois- giving the slavery issue center stage in American politics.

Civil War and Slavery 1861-Lincoln becomes president and the Confederate States of America are formed Emancipation Proclamation freeing the slaves in rebelling states th Amendment to the Constitution is passed prohibiting slavery forever in the United States