1. Life in the South

2. Many tobacco farmers shifted to cotton
Cotton Economy
Demand for cotton increased (esp. with growth of textile industry in Britain) and South became the “Cotton Kingdom”
FL, GA, SC
Grew rice and sugar, but these were labor intensive crops – shifted to cotton
1830s
Many tobacco farmers shifted to cotton

3. There were numerous reasons for the South’s dependency on cotton…
Profitability of cotton production
So much money was invested in cotton that there wasn’t much money left to invest in anything else
The belief that Southerners were not as ambitious and didn’t have the work ethic of Northerners
Many white Southerners began to see themselves as representatives of a special “Southern” way of life made up of
Chivalry
Leisure
Elegance
Honor
There was great emphasis put on being a “gentleman” and exhibiting courtesy and respect

4. Southern Identity
The wealthy Southern plantation owners (and those that wanted to be wealthy plantation owners) longed for a lifestyle like that of the old European aristocracy … to be wealthy, well- born and stately.
But, most of these Southerners were first generation farmers that had made their wealth through cotton. The southern identity in many ways was a way to further their perceived status.
Within this identity, women maintained a specific role…
Hostess, mistress of the house
Nurturing mother to their children (they had more than Northern women on average)
No public employment or political activity

5. “Poor Whites”
Only around 15% of the white population in the South owned slaves. They
Faced a lack of educational opportunities
Had very little money, were subsistence farmers
Many believed that slavery threatened their independence (their identity was linked to their desire to prove their ability to support themselves and get by on the few resources they had)