Southern Institutions Continued…

Cotton Kingdom

What were some basic understandings regarding Southern the stratified hierarchy in the South during the

antebellum period?

Antebellum South Aristocracy- feudalism & chivalry (duels etc..) Myth of the Southern aristocrat Mostly self made (attorney’s, soldiers,

marriage) Leisure time? finances and managing

plantation Non planter class- predominate but supported

slavery for economic and social reasons

Cotton Kingdom

Notion of benevolent masters- slaves were like

children that depended upon their masters Economic yet family investment (“our people) Firm discipline was necessary for sound

economic investments Ban of the slave trade made reproduction a

must in order to perpetuate slavery Comparatively (world wide) fairly well cared

for

Planter Paternalism

Not all planters followed this axiom Many slaves were malnourished and tortured Did not have a close relationship with the actual owner-

mostly the drivers Selling of slaves for economic reasons contrasts the

paternalism Basis for authority was “fear” Whipping, threat of sale Bad treatment- torture, rape etc. had no recourse There was “absolute power” over the slaves- major critique

of slave power Uncle Tom’s Cabin

But…

Most of the population did own large amounts

of slaves Generally small merchants Lived in relative closeness but with Spartan

like conditions

Small Slave-owner

The “shiftless poor whites” Did not have the same economic opportunities do to a lack

of development Mostly located in the backcountry Similar to the later homesteads of the west Reliance on subsistence farming- therefore grew corn and

other crops Accepted slavery but some voiced concern about the

planter control over society- Hinton Helper Jacksonians who feared “cotton snobs” But also did not abolition for fear of economic competition

from slaves: slavery kept “them in their place”

Yeomen Farmer

Fear of a slave uprising Fear of abolition- equal footing with the lower class Debate over gradual emancipation (Virginia) American Colonization Society: But defeated by the notion of slavery being a “positive good” 1) slavery was natural and the proper social status 2) slavery was sanctioned by the Bible (Saint Paul- obey your masters) 3) Family government- slaves were incapable of supporting themselvesSlavery was more humane than northern industry- Cannibal’s All Intimidation and isolation of anti-slavery ideals also prevailed Cassius M. Clay: anti-slavery intellectual fired from University of North

Carolina for stating he would vote for a moderate Republican view of emancipation

Closed Minded Society

Effects… Stringent anti-education laws Curfews Patrols Attacks on anti-slavery propaganda Talks of secession due to onslaught of

propaganda

Nat Turner

1810-1860: slavery tripled to 4 million slaves Cotton? Or the reliance on the institution of slavery?-

regional dichotomy Decrease in the need for slaves in the upper South with

an increase in slaves for the lower South (cotton belt) Led to an increase in the internal slave trade Upper South became somewhat of a breeding ground for

slaves to be sent South Cotton became king due to ease of growth, cotton gin

and westward expansion (13,000 to 4.8 million bales by 1860).

King Cotton

Cotton growth ruined the land: what options? Hard times- big planters could diversify crops

(keep the slaves); other planters may move west or sale the slaves (need to retain slaves).

Motivation is to keep slavery as an institution Industrialization- should remain free whites,

but also posed a threat to slavery (demands for wages etc.): South failed to industrialize as a whole.

Slavery Reliance

Read the section regarding profitability on

pages 324-326… What were the arguments for and against the

profitability of slavery?

Was Slavery Profitable