• Less populated than the NorthLess populated than the North

• Smaller cities, people mostly lived on farms that were spread out across Smaller cities, people mostly lived on farms that were spread out across the land.the land.

• Focused on agriculture, not industry.Focused on agriculture, not industry.

• Less railroad and technologyLess railroad and technology

• Shipped cotton to North (who then created products with it)Shipped cotton to North (who then created products with it)

• Depended on slave laborDepended on slave labor

• Very rich and very poor.Very rich and very poor.

Southern Society Southern Society (1850)(1850)

Southern Society Southern Society (1850)(1850)““Slavocracy”Slavocracy”

[plantation owners][plantation owners]““Slavocracy”Slavocracy”

[plantation owners][plantation owners]

The “Plain Folk”The “Plain Folk”[white yeoman farmers][white yeoman farmers]The “Plain Folk”The “Plain Folk”

[white yeoman farmers][white yeoman farmers]

6,000,0006,000,000

Black FreemenBlack FreemenBlack FreemenBlack Freemen

Black SlavesBlack Slaves3,200,0003,200,000

Black SlavesBlack Slaves3,200,0003,200,000

250,000250,000

Total US Population Total US Population 23,000,000 23,000,000[9,250,000 in the South = 40%][9,250,000 in the South = 40%]

Economy in the SouthEconomy in the South

The climate and soil of the South are good for The climate and soil of the South are good for growing warm weather crops. growing warm weather crops. The economy of the South was based on agriculture.

• Cotton, tobacco, rice, sugar cane, and indigo (a plant that was used for blue dye) were sold as cash crops.

• Cotton became the most important crop after Ely Whitney’s invention of the cotton gin.

• Before this invention, it took one person all day to process two pounds of cotton by hand, a slow and inefficient method. Whitney's Cotton Gin machine could process that much within a half hour. Southern planters saw their profits soar as more and more of them relied on cotton as their main cash crop.

Slaves were a central part of that industry.

.

Changes in Cotton ProductionChanges in Cotton ProductionChanges in Cotton ProductionChanges in Cotton Production

18201820

18601860

Slaves Using the Cotton Slaves Using the Cotton GinGin

Slaves Using the Cotton Slaves Using the Cotton GinGin

Slaves Picking CottonSlaves Picking Cottonon a Mississippi on a Mississippi

PlantationPlantation

Slaves Picking CottonSlaves Picking Cottonon a Mississippi on a Mississippi

PlantationPlantation

Southern Southern AgricultureAgricultureSouthern Southern

AgricultureAgriculture

Distribution of Slave Distribution of Slave Labor in 1850Labor in 1850

Distribution of Slave Distribution of Slave Labor in 1850Labor in 1850

Many whites who had no slaves looked with envy upon the wealthy, and to a degree admired them. The poor scraped hard on little plots of land for subsistence.

They knew how hard the plantation slaves were driven, and there was sympathy for the slave in this regard, but they did not want to see the slaves freed.

With large numbers of slaves nearby, the Southern poor feared that if the slaves were freed they would overrun, steal from and perhaps murder them.

Slave-Owning Population Slave-Owning Population (1850)(1850)

Slave-Owning Population Slave-Owning Population (1850)(1850)

Slaves were considered the property of their Slaves were considered the property of their master not people.master not people.

The diets of enslaved people were inadequate The diets of enslaved people were inadequate or barely adequate to meet the demands of their or barely adequate to meet the demands of their heavy workload. They lived in crude quarters heavy workload. They lived in crude quarters that left them vulnerable to bad weather and that left them vulnerable to bad weather and disease. Their clothing and bedding were disease. Their clothing and bedding were minimal as well.minimal as well.

Slaves were often forced to work even when Slaves were often forced to work even when sick. Black people had to stand in water for sick. Black people had to stand in water for hours at a time in the sweltering sun. Malaria hours at a time in the sweltering sun. Malaria was rampant. Child mortality was extremely high was rampant. Child mortality was extremely high on these plantations, generally around 66% -- on these plantations, generally around 66% -- on one rice plantation it was as high as 90%.on one rice plantation it was as high as 90%.

One of the worst conditions that enslaved One of the worst conditions that enslaved people had to live under was the constant threat people had to live under was the constant threat of sale. Slaves were sometimes sold as a form of sale. Slaves were sometimes sold as a form of punishment. Immediate families were often of punishment. Immediate families were often separated. Grandparents, sisters, brothers, and separated. Grandparents, sisters, brothers, and cousins could all find themselves forcibly cousins could all find themselves forcibly scattered, never to see each other again. scattered, never to see each other again.

Slaves in the SouthSlaves in the SouthSlaves in the SouthSlaves in the South

Slaves were punished;Slaves were punished;•for not working fast enough, for not working fast enough, •for being late getting to the fields,for being late getting to the fields,•for defying authority, for defying authority, •for running away, and morefor running away, and more

The punishments took many forms, including: The punishments took many forms, including: •whippings, whippings, •torture, torture, •mutilation, mutilation, •imprisonment, imprisonment, •and being sold away from the plantation. and being sold away from the plantation. •Slaves were even sometimes murdered. Slaves were even sometimes murdered.

Slaves throughout the South had to live under a set of laws called the Slave Codes. Slaves throughout the South had to live under a set of laws called the Slave Codes. •the slaves were considered property, not people, and were treated as such. the slaves were considered property, not people, and were treated as such. •Slaves could not testify in court against a white, Slaves could not testify in court against a white, •make contracts, make contracts, •leave the plantation without permission, leave the plantation without permission, •strike a white (even in self-defense), strike a white (even in self-defense), •buy and sell goods, buy and sell goods, •own firearms, own firearms, •gather without a white present, or visit the homes of whites or free blacks,gather without a white present, or visit the homes of whites or free blacks,•The killing of a slave was almost never regarded as murder.The killing of a slave was almost never regarded as murder.

Slaves in the SouthSlaves in the SouthSlaves in the SouthSlaves in the South

Slaves resisted their treatment in innumerable ways:Slaves resisted their treatment in innumerable ways:

•They slowed down their work pace, They slowed down their work pace, •disabled machinery, disabled machinery, •feigned sickness, feigned sickness, •destroyed crops. destroyed crops. •They argued and fought with their masters and overseers. They argued and fought with their masters and overseers. •Many stole livestock, other food, or valuables. Many stole livestock, other food, or valuables. •Some learned to read and write, a practice forbidden by law. Some learned to read and write, a practice forbidden by law. •Some burned forests and buildings.Some burned forests and buildings.•Thousands of slaves ran away and escaped to the North.Thousands of slaves ran away and escaped to the North.

Slaves in the SouthSlaves in the SouthSlaves in the SouthSlaves in the South

Slave Auction Notice, Slave Auction Notice, 18231823

Slave Auction Notice, Slave Auction Notice, 18231823

Slave Auction: Slave Auction: Charleston, Charleston, SC-1856SC-1856

Slave Auction: Slave Auction: Charleston, Charleston, SC-1856SC-1856

Slave MasterBrands

Slave AccoutrementsSlave AccoutrementsSlave AccoutrementsSlave Accoutrements

Slave muzzle

Slave tag, SC

Slave AccoutrementsSlave AccoutrementsSlave AccoutrementsSlave Accoutrements

Slave leg irons

Slave shoes

Slaves Slaves posing in posing in front of front of

their cabin their cabin on a on a

Southern Southern plantation.plantation.

Slaves Slaves posing in posing in front of front of

their cabin their cabin on a on a

Southern Southern plantation.plantation.

Runaway Slave AdsRunaway Slave AdsRunaway Slave AdsRunaway Slave Ads

The Southern “Belle”The Southern “Belle”The Southern “Belle”The Southern “Belle”

The wealthy white women of the south spent most of their time in the home.

White women (of all classes) in the south suffered under heavier burdens than northern women. They married earlier, bore more children, and were more likely to die young, especially in cases of childbirth.

White southern women had fewer outlets than northern women, who could be involved in charitable organizations or reform movements.

The Southern Lady was supposed to be sweet and submissive, she was required to work hard but hide her effort.

They had to be the bosses without visibly being the boss or showing their authority. Despite the reality of the responsibilities of supervising house slaves, servants, and general household duties, the plantation mistress didn’t rule over the household, the master did. She didn’t have the authority, but was expected to do all the work.

The Southern “Belle”The Southern “Belle”The Southern “Belle”The Southern “Belle”

Education - Of the nation's 321 public high schools only 30 were in the South. In the South the sons of the poor were likely to receive no education. Illiteracy was more common in the South. Education there was more for the rich, and teaching tended to be private.

Cultural DifferencesCultural DifferencesCultural DifferencesCultural Differences

Final notes on the Final notes on the SouthSouth

Final notes on the Final notes on the SouthSouth