1. Life in the South
Mr. Davis

2. White Southerners:
The old South is often pictured as this land that had millions of slaves, very large plantations, and huge mansions.
This is in fact not the case, many times white southerners did not even own slaves, they couldn’t afford them.

3. “The Cottonocracy”:
A planter was someone who owned at least 20 slaves.
In 1860 only one white southerner in 30 belonged to a planter family (1 in 30=.03%)
An even smaller number owned at least 50 slaves

4. The wealthy families were a part of the “cottonocracy”, a wealthy family in the South who made profit from cotton.
The richest planters built elegant homes, had expensive furniture, and entertained very lavishly.

5. Many planters during the time had a large business, they became so wealthy and they needed to influence politics so they became political leaders.
They would hire “over-seers” to watch over the slaves and the plantation.

6. Small Farms:
Approximately 75% of the southern whites were small farmers.
These “plain folks” owned the land they farmed.
They might also own one or two slaves, the plain folks worked alongside their slaves.
“People who lived miles apart were considered neighbors.”

7. Poor Whites:
Lower on the social ladder was a small group of poor whites. They did not own the land that they farmed on.
Poor whites often lived in the hilly, wooded, areas of the South.

8. They planted potatoes, corn, and other veggies.
They herded cattle and pigs as well.
Poor whites had very hard lives, but unlike African Americans they were granted rights.

9. African American Southerners:
Both free and enslaved African Americans lived in the South under harsh laws.

10. Free African Americans:
Most free African Americans were descendants of slaves freed during the American Revolution
In 1860, over 200,000 free blacks lived in the South
Most lived in Maryland and Delaware, where slavery was in decline.

11. Slave owners did not like free African Americans, they feared that they would set a bad example for those who were enslaved leading to revolts.
Slave owners justified slavery by saying that slaves would not be able to live on their own and take care of themselves.
Free African Americans were not allowed to vote or travel.

12. Enslaved African Americans:
Enslaved African Americans made up 1/3 of the South’s population.
Most worked as field hands, women and men both cleared new lands and helped plant and harvest new crops.
Children would help as well by pulling weeds and gathering wood.
Some African Americans became skilled workers as well like blacksmiths and carpenters.
However, whatever they made from their work, went to their owners

13. Life without Freedom
The life of enslaved African Americans was determined by strict laws and the practices of individual slave owners.
The conditions however were different from plantation to plantation.

14. Slaves code:
Southern states passed laws to keep slaves from either running away or rebelling.
With the codes, enslaved African Americans were not allowed to meet in groups larger than three.

15. It was also against the law to be able to learn to read and write it was FORBIDDEN!
They did this to ensure that they could not make it North.
Some laws were meant to protect slaves. These laws were to ensure that slaves would not get the worst forms of abuse.

16. Hard Work: Slaves worked long hours and in harsh conditions.
Most slaves worked from “can see to can’t see”-pretty much a 16 hour day.
Many times owners would whip their slaves in order to have them work all day.
It was stated by a former slave “the worst part was not the beatings, it was the loss of freedom”

17. Family Life
It was very difficult for families to stay together when being purchased by owners.
Slave laws also did not acknowledge slave marriage and families.
However, on the larger plantations families were able to stick together.

18. Many times parents taught their children folk tales to pass on their African history and beliefs.
Many times the only hope that African Americans had was religion.

19. Resistance against Slavery:
Some African American’s struck back by stealing food, broke tools, destroyed crops and stole food.
Many tried to escape to the North, it was a long and dangerous journey and very few made it.

20. Nat Turner: Led a revolt through Virginia. Killed more than 57 whites.
Nat Turners uprising led to more uprisings for African American’s throughout the South.
There was no chance of success however.