Cotton Boom Cotton Gin made cleaning cotton efficient The Cotton Gin made cleaning cotton more efficient – Designed for short-fibered cotton One worker went from cleaning 1 lb to 50 lbs a day One worker went from cleaning 1 lb to 50 lbs a day Made short-fibered cotton a commercial product Made short-fibered cotton a commercial product – Short-fibered grew all over the most of the south

After 1800, cotton rapidly emerged as the country’s most important export crop and quickly became the key to American prosperity.

Effect of the Cotton Engine (“Gin”) Cotton moved westward beyond the Atlantic Coast Cotton moved westward beyond the Atlantic Coast - into AL, MS, & eventually TX planters grew more of it than any other goods Cotton was so valuable, planters grew more of it than any other goods Cotton exports increased Land was taken from Native Americans to be used for cotton plantations Growing cotton required land - Land was taken from Native Americans to be used for cotton plantations required a large work force = slavery Growing cotton required a large work force = slavery Growing cotton r rr required a large work force = slavery

Cotton production expanded westward between 1820 and 1860 into Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and western Tennessee forcing Native Americans off their land

Cotton production rose Cotton production rose – 1820 = $22 million from cotton exports – Late 1830’s = $200 million in exports – Late 1830’s = close to $200 million in exports A male field hand sold for $300 in 1790 A male field hand sold for $300 in 1790 – By 1830, he sold for $1, – Foreign slave trade made illegal 1808 – Foreign slave trade made illegal – Compromise in the Constitution Slavery divided white southerners Slavery divided white southerners

This 1860 view of New Orleans captures the size and scale of the cotton trade in the South’s largest city. More than 3,500 steamboats arrived in New Orleans in Give Me Liberty!: An American History, 2nd Edition Copyright © 2007 W.W. Norton & Company

Because slave labor produced the cotton, increasing exports strengthened the slave system itself.

Slavery spread southwestward from the upper South and the eastern seaboard following the spread of cotton cultivation.

Slavery Expands King Cotton: cotton became the world’s main crop by slave labor King Cotton: cotton became the world’s main crop produced by slave labor Replaced sugar Replaced sugar 3/4 ths of the world’s cotton supply came from the southern U.S. 3/4 ths of the world’s cotton supply came from the southern U.S. Southern cotton supplied Northern textile mills & those in Great Britain Southern cotton supplied Northern textile mills & those in Great Britain After 1840, cotton production made the southern economy stronger & wealthier than the north economy After 1840, cotton production made the southern economy stronger & wealthier than the north economy

Most southern whites did not live in elegant mansions Most southern whites did not live in elegant mansions About 1/3 of whites owned slaves in 1840 About 1/3 of whites owned slaves in 1840 Large majority owned fewer than 10 slaves Large majority owned fewer than 10 slaves Only about 8% of blacks in the South were free Only about 8% of blacks in the South were free – Most in Washington, D.C. or Baltimore – Some had to leave their state once freed

Controlled social, political, and economic life in the south Planter Elite Middle Class Lower Middle Class Lower Class – Had No Slaves Slaves 20 or more slaves 3% of white pop 75% of white pop slaves 9% of white pop. 1-5 slaves 13% of white pop. Controlled social, political, and economic life in the south 33% of TOTAL pop.

Planter Elite Middle Class Lower Middle Class Lower Class – Had No Slaves Slaves 20 or more slaves 3% of white pop 75% of white pop slaves 9% of white pop. 1-5 slaves 13% of white pop. Controlled social, political, and economic life in the south 33% of TOTAL pop.

Slave Life Few comforts except the bare necessities Few comforts except the bare necessities did not protect against family separation Laws did not protect against family separation Extended culture, fellowship, & community Extended their culture, fellowship, & community – Fused African & American elements to form new culture – Whites used religion to control slaves – By 1860, almost all enslaved were American born Found expression through religion & “spirituals” Found expression through religion & “spirituals” – Songs like “Go Down Moses” & “Wade in the Water”

Slave Rebellions Slaves resisted their work in many ways Slaves resisted their work in many ways -Breaking tools, working slow, feigning illness and injury, running away Nat Turner– led 70 followers before caught & hanged Nat Turner (1830) – led 70 followers before caught & hanged Slave codes were enforced to control enslaved people Slave codes were enforced to control enslaved people – To prevent rebellion Some slaves did escape & make a better life for themselves Some slaves did escape & make a better life for themselves