1. Divine Chapter 11:
Slaves and Masters

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. Rebellion Sweeping the Nation

18. Resistance Majority of slaves never participated in open rebellion
Passive resistance
Defiance
Runaway
Underground Railroad
Sabotage
Stealing from the master
Faking illness or stupidity
Poisoning master/family

19. 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