Plantations and Slavery Plantations and Slavery SpreadSpread

Eli Whitney (4)Eli Whitney (4) (interchangeable (interchangeable parts) also invented the parts) also invented the cotton gin cotton gin

(5)(5) This was a machine This was a machine

that would separate that would separate the seeds from cotton.the seeds from cotton.

This meant Southern This meant Southern Farmers could grow a Farmers could grow a lot more cotton.lot more cotton.

And if they could grow And if they could grow a lot more cotton a lot more cotton they’d need a lot more they’d need a lot more slave laborslave labor

This also meant more land This also meant more land would be used for growing would be used for growing

cottoncotton This new land This new land

meant more Native meant more Native Americans would Americans would lose what they had lose what they had left in the south.left in the south.

It also meant these It also meant these farmers would farmers would continue to expand continue to expand west.west.

SlavesSlaves

In 1808 it became In 1808 it became illegal to import any illegal to import any more Africans so the more Africans so the slaves that were here slaves that were here were more valuable were more valuable (even though they (even though they were still smuggled were still smuggled here).here).

In 1790 worth about In 1790 worth about $300. In 1830 worth $300. In 1830 worth about $1000.about $1000.

Who owned slaves around Who owned slaves around 1840?1840?

Most white Most white Southern farmers Southern farmers (about 1/3) owned (about 1/3) owned few or no slaves.few or no slaves.

Only a very few Only a very few Southerners owned Southerners owned huge plantations huge plantations with vast numbers with vast numbers of slaves of slaves

But even people who But even people who didn’t have slaves didn’t have slaves supported slavery supported slavery because they one because they one day hoped to be able day hoped to be able to have some.to have some.

But these few people But these few people had all the political had all the political power in the southpower in the south

Slaves made up about 1/3 Slaves made up about 1/3 of the South’s population in of the South’s population in

18401840 There was not a There was not a

“typical” kind of slave.“typical” kind of slave. How they were treated How they were treated

depended on where depended on where they lived, the work they lived, the work needing to be done, needing to be done, and even their owners and even their owners attitudes.attitudes.

Many states did have Many states did have rules and laws, and rules and laws, and “codes” for how slaves “codes” for how slaves should live.should live.

Religion was very important for Religion was very important for most slavesmost slaves

Owners would even use the Owners would even use the argument that in the Bible it argument that in the Bible it says: “servants, obey your says: “servants, obey your masters”masters”

They often even compared They often even compared themselves to Moses and the themselves to Moses and the Hebrew people in the Bible – Hebrew people in the Bible – when he asked the Pharaoh when he asked the Pharaoh to “let my people go”to “let my people go”

Music and (26/28) spirituals Music and (26/28) spirituals were a big part of slave life.were a big part of slave life.

(religious songs sung by (religious songs sung by slaves)slaves)

Slave familiesSlave families

Were often split up.Were often split up. This gave owners more This gave owners more

power and control over power and control over their slaves.their slaves.

Kids would usually be Kids would usually be allowed to stay with allowed to stay with their mothers.their mothers.

It was very important It was very important for them to be for them to be together whenever together whenever they could.they could.

And there were some And there were some rebellionsrebellions

There were a lot of There were a lot of little rebellions. Some little rebellions. Some even have names. even have names. Most do not.Most do not.

The most famous The most famous rebellion was led by rebellion was led by Nat Turner.Nat Turner.

He believed God He believed God wanted him to free the wanted him to free the slaves – even if he had slaves – even if he had to use violence to do to use violence to do it.it.

Nat Turner (34)Nat Turner (34)

Was a slave who Was a slave who learned to read and learned to read and write and liked to write and liked to read the Bible.read the Bible.

He became a He became a “preacher” to other “preacher” to other slaves.slaves.

He believed that He believed that God wanted him to God wanted him to free the slaves – free the slaves – even if it even if it

In 1831 Nat Turner…In 1831 Nat Turner…

And 70 followers killed And 70 followers killed 55 white men, women, 55 white men, women, and children. and children.

Eventually their Eventually their ammunition ran out ammunition ran out and they were caught.and they were caught.

16 of his men were 16 of his men were killed and when they killed and when they caught Nat Turner he caught Nat Turner he was “tried” and was “tried” and hanged.hanged.

These kinds of rebellions These kinds of rebellions led to even stricter slave codesled to even stricter slave codes