11: The South and 11: The South and Slavery,Slavery, 1790s— 1790s—

1850s1850s

Frederick Douglass, 1817 - 1895

““You cannot outlaw one part of the people You cannot outlaw one part of the people without endangering the rights and liberties without endangering the rights and liberties of all people. You cannot put a chain on the of all people. You cannot put a chain on the ankle of the bondsman without finding the ankle of the bondsman without finding the

other end of it about your own necks.” other end of it about your own necks.” Frederick DouglassFrederick Douglass

““This young boy [Nat Turner], by the time he This young boy [Nat Turner], by the time he was eight or nine years old, had memorized was eight or nine years old, had memorized

the entire Bible.” Stephen B. Oates the entire Bible.” Stephen B. Oates

“The mistress of a plantation was the most complete slave on it.” Susan Dabney Smedes

“But southern court records, newspapers, plantation diaries, and slave memoirs reveal that sadistic slave

punishments were frequent and harsh.” [text]

“New Orleans from the Lower Cotton Press, 1852”

Mobile Bay, Alabama 1842

IntroductionIntroduction

Brer Rabbit and Brer Wolf Frog and scorpion, boiled frog syndromeFrog and scorpion, boiled frog syndrome Maroon colonies, Los Folkloristas song 40% of free blacks were mulattos compared

to 10% of slaves! drapetomania - “the disease causing Negroes

to run away” Life expectancy: 21.4 black / 25.5 white

(1850) Gary Wills: “the slave power” politically

Chapter Review QuestionsChapter Review Questions How did cotton production after 1793 transform the social and political history of the How did cotton production after 1793 transform the social and political history of the

South? How did the rest of the nation/world benefit? South? How did the rest of the nation/world benefit? What were the two key institutions of the African American slave community? How did What were the two key institutions of the African American slave community? How did

they function, and what beliefs did they express?they function, and what beliefs did they express? The circumstances of three very different groups—poor whites, educated and The circumstances of three very different groups—poor whites, educated and

property-owning American Indians, and free African Americans—put them outside the property-owning American Indians, and free African Americans—put them outside the dominant southern equation of white equals free and black equals slave. Analyze the dominant southern equation of white equals free and black equals slave. Analyze the difficulty each group encountered in the slave-owning South.difficulty each group encountered in the slave-owning South.

Who were the yeoman farmers? What was their interest in slavery?Who were the yeoman farmers? What was their interest in slavery? Southern slaveholders claimed that their paternalism justified their ownership of Southern slaveholders claimed that their paternalism justified their ownership of

slaves, but paternalism implied obligations as well as privileges. How well do you slaves, but paternalism implied obligations as well as privileges. How well do you think slaveholders lived up to their paternalistic obligations?think slaveholders lived up to their paternalistic obligations?

How did slave owners justify slavery? How did their defense How did slave owners justify slavery? How did their defense change over timechange over time??

3 interpretive schools of the “peculiar institution”

1. Slavery as a relatively humane and reasonable institution helping childlike slaves

2. Slavery as a harsh and cruel system of oppressive exploitation

3. Viewed from the perspective of the slaves: brutal treatment but survived with sense of self-esteem, community and culture

The first two interpretations emphasized The first two interpretations emphasized workaday interactions, the 2nd focused on life in workaday interactions, the 2nd focused on life in the slave quarters from sunup to sundownthe slave quarters from sunup to sundown

Rationalizations – positive good to Rationalizations – positive good to necessary evil. . . necessary evil. . .

BiblicalBiblicalCurse of CanaanCurse of CanaanOld and New TestamentOld and New Testament

HistoricalHistoricalEgypt, Greece, RomeEgypt, Greece, Rome

LegalLegalConstitutionConstitutionMissouri Compromise ScientificMissouri Compromise ScientificEnvironmental factorsEnvironmental factorsCreated separately [polygenesis]Created separately [polygenesis]

Allston: Allston: “The educated master is the Negro’s best “The educated master is the Negro’s best friend upon earth.”friend upon earth.”

George Fitzhugh: George Fitzhugh: “the Negro is but a grown child “the Negro is but a grown child and must be governed as a child.”and must be governed as a child.”

ChronologyChronology

17871787 Constitution with pro-slavery sectionsConstitution with pro-slavery sections1790s1790s Haiti revolutionHaiti revolution17931793 Eli Whitney invents cotton ginEli Whitney invents cotton gin18001800 Gabriel Prosser conspiracy in VAGabriel Prosser conspiracy in VA18081808 External slave trade prohibited by CongressExternal slave trade prohibited by Congress18201820 South is world’s largest cotton producerSouth is world’s largest cotton producer18221822 Denmark Vesey’s conspiracy in SCDenmark Vesey’s conspiracy in SC1830s1830s Southern justification from “necessary evil”Southern justification from “necessary evil”

to “positive good”to “positive good”Brazilian slave revoltsBrazilian slave revolts

18311831 Nat Turner revolt in VA [Joseph Travis, 55 dead]Nat Turner revolt in VA [Joseph Travis, 55 dead]William Lloyd Garrison’s William Lloyd Garrison’s LiberatorLiberator

18451845 Narrative of the Life of Frederick DouglassNarrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass1850s1850s Cotton boomCotton boom18511851 Indiana’s constitution excludes free blacksIndiana’s constitution excludes free blacks18521852 Harriet Beecher Stowe: Harriet Beecher Stowe: Uncle Tom’s CabinUncle Tom’s Cabin1850s1850s Harriet Tubman, 19 trips with 300 slaves Harriet Tubman, 19 trips with 300 slaves 18601860 Cotton production and prices peakCotton production and prices peak

William Lloyd Garrison, 1805 - 1879

Bibliography

John Blasingame, The Slave Community (1979)Linda Brent, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (1861)Robert Fogel and Stanley Engerman, Robert Fogel and Stanley Engerman, Time on Time on

the Cross the Cross (1974) and (1974) and Without Consent or Without Consent or Contract: The Rise and Fall of American Contract: The Rise and Fall of American Slavery Slavery (1989)(1989)

John Hope Franklin, From Slavery to Freedom: A History of Negro Americans (1947)

Elizabeth Fox-Genovese, Within the Plantation Household: Black and White women of the Old South (1988)

Herbert Gutman, The Black Family in Slavery and Freedom, 1750-1925 (1976)

Ulrich Phillips, American Negro Slavery (1919)Kenneth Stampp, The Peculiar Institution (1956)Harriet Beecher Stowe, Uncle Tom’s Cabin

(1852)

A:A: Natchez Under-the-Hill Natchez Under-the-Hill

Natchez and Natchez Under-the-Hill were Natchez and Natchez Under-the-Hill were adjacent communities. adjacent communities.

Natchez was an elegant planter community.Natchez was an elegant planter community. Natchez Under-the-Hill was a mixed community Natchez Under-the-Hill was a mixed community

of rivermen, gamblers, Indians, andof rivermen, gamblers, Indians, and blacks that was a potential threat to racial blacks that was a potential threat to racial

control.control. Rumors of a slave insurrection plot led the Rumors of a slave insurrection plot led the

planters to drive the gamblers and otherplanters to drive the gamblers and other undesirables away.undesirables away.

B: King Cotton B: King Cotton and Southern and Southern

ExpansionExpansion

A tobacco plantation

The Cotton Gin and Southern The Cotton Gin and Southern ExpansionExpansion

Eli Whitney’s and Catherine Greene’s Eli Whitney’s and Catherine Greene’s cotton gin made cultivating short-staple cotton gin made cultivating short-staple cotton profitable, revolutionizing the cotton profitable, revolutionizing the Southern economy. Southern economy.

After the War of 1812 Southerners After the War of 1812 Southerners expanded into Western Georgia, Alabama expanded into Western Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi, driving out the Indians who and Mississippi, driving out the Indians who already lived there, already lived there,

A generation later they poured into A generation later they poured into Louisiana and Texas. Louisiana and Texas.

Each surge of expansion ignited a Each surge of expansion ignited a speculative frenzy. speculative frenzy.

The Expansion of the SlaveryThe Expansion of the Slavery

Between 1790 and 1860, the slave Between 1790 and 1860, the slave population grew from 700,000 to four population grew from 700,000 to four million. million.

The Expansion of CottonThe Expansion of Cotton

The expansion of cotton was The expansion of cotton was concentrated in the rich soil sections concentrated in the rich soil sections of the South known as the black beltof the South known as the black belt

Changing Attitudes toward Changing Attitudes toward SlaverySlavery

The growth of the cotton economy The growth of the cotton economy committed the South to slavery.committed the South to slavery.

In other parts of the nation, attitudes In other parts of the nation, attitudes toward slavery were changing.toward slavery were changing.

Congress banned the slave trade Congress banned the slave trade in 1808 so the South relied on in 1808 so the South relied on natural increase and the internal natural increase and the internal slave trade.slave trade.

The Internal Slave TradeThe Internal Slave Trade

Planter migration stimulated the slave Planter migration stimulated the slave trade. trade.

Slaves were gathered in pens before Slaves were gathered in pens before moving south by train or boat.moving south by train or boat.

On foot, slaves moved on land in coffles.On foot, slaves moved on land in coffles. The size of the slave trade made a mockery The size of the slave trade made a mockery

of Southern claims of benevolence.of Southern claims of benevolence.

A coffle of slaves sold west from South Carolina

The Economics of SlaveryThe Economics of Slavery

Cotton helped finance northern industry and Cotton helped finance northern industry and trade. trade.

Cotton and slavery tied up capital Cotton and slavery tied up capital leaving the South lagging behind the leaving the South lagging behind the North in urban population, North in urban population, industrialization, canals, and railroads.industrialization, canals, and railroads.

Cotton created a distinctive regionalCotton created a distinctive regional culture.culture.

The Precarious Slave ExistenceThe Precarious Slave Existence

The slaves’ first challenge was to The slaves’ first challenge was to survive because:survive because: they lived in one-room cabins with dirt they lived in one-room cabins with dirt

floors and a few furnishingsfloors and a few furnishings neither their food and clothing was neither their food and clothing was

adequate and were frequently adequate and were frequently supplemented by the slaves’ own efforts supplemented by the slaves’ own efforts

To survive, slaves learned how to avoid To survive, slaves learned how to avoid punishments and to flatter whites.punishments and to flatter whites.

Slave LaborSlave Labor

Some slaves worked as house servants.Some slaves worked as house servants. Some slaves were skilled workers. Some slaves were skilled workers. Seventy-five percent of slaves Seventy-five percent of slaves

worked as field hands, from sunup worked as field hands, from sunup to sundown, performing the heavy to sundown, performing the heavy labor needed for getting out a labor needed for getting out a cotton crop. cotton crop.

Not surprisingly, many suffered from Not surprisingly, many suffered from poor health.poor health.

Sold “Down the River”Sold “Down the River”

The opening of western lands The opening of western lands contributed to the instability of slave life.contributed to the instability of slave life.

Many slaves were separated from their Many slaves were separated from their families by sale or migration and faced families by sale or migration and faced new hardships in the West.new hardships in the West.

C: The African C: The African American American

CommunityCommunity

Building the African American Building the African American CommunityCommunity

Slaves created a community where Slaves created a community where an indigenous culture developed, an indigenous culture developed, influencing all aspects of Southern influencing all aspects of Southern life. life.

Masters had to learn to live with Masters had to learn to live with the the two key institutions of African two key institutions of African American community life: the American community life: the family and the church. family and the church.

Slave FamiliesSlave Families

Slave marriages were:Slave marriages were: not recognized by law not recognized by law frequently not respected by mastersfrequently not respected by masters a haven of love and intimacy for the slavesa haven of love and intimacy for the slaves

Parents gave children a supportive and Parents gave children a supportive and protective kinship network. protective kinship network.

Slave families were often split up.Slave families were often split up. Separated children drew upon supportive Separated children drew upon supportive

networks of family and friends.networks of family and friends.

Hermitage plantation slave cabins, Savannah, GA - each 2 rooms, bedroom & kitchen

“The Kitchen Ball at White Sulphur Springs” 1838 [after-hour slaves in VA]

African American ReligionAfrican American Religion

Slaves were not permitted to practice African Slaves were not permitted to practice African religionsreligions, though numerous survivals did work their , though numerous survivals did work their way into the slaves’ folk culture. way into the slaves’ folk culture.

The first and second Great Awakenings introduced The first and second Great Awakenings introduced Christianity to many slaves. Christianity to many slaves.

In the 1790s, African American churches began In the 1790s, African American churches began emerging. emerging.

Whites hoped religion would make the slaves Whites hoped religion would make the slaves obedient. obedient.

Slaves found a liberating message that Slaves found a liberating message that strengthened their sense of community and offered strengthened their sense of community and offered them spiritual freedom.them spiritual freedom.

An 1860 slave burial “drawn from life” at the plantation of LA Gov. Tucker

Freedom and ResistanceFreedom and Resistance

Most slaves understood that they Most slaves understood that they could not escape bondage. could not escape bondage.

About 1,000 per year escaped, About 1,000 per year escaped, mostly from the upper South.mostly from the upper South.

Running away and hiding in the Running away and hiding in the swamps or woods for about a week swamps or woods for about a week and then returning was more common.and then returning was more common.

Slave RevoltsSlave Revolts

A few slaves organized revolts. A few slaves organized revolts. Gabriel Prosser and Denmark Vesey organized Gabriel Prosser and Denmark Vesey organized

large-scale conspiracies to attack whites in large-scale conspiracies to attack whites in Richmond and Charleston that failed.Richmond and Charleston that failed.

Nat TurnerNat Turner led the most famous slave revolt in led the most famous slave revolt in Southampton County, Virginia in Southampton County, Virginia in 18311831. .

Turner used religious imagery to lead slaves as they Turner used religious imagery to lead slaves as they killed 55 whites. killed 55 whites.

After Turner’s revolt, white southerners continually After Turner’s revolt, white southerners continually were reminded by the threat of slave insurrection.were reminded by the threat of slave insurrection.

Nat Turner’s Rebellion 1831

The death of Captain Ferrer on the Amistad – July 1839

Free African AmericansFree African Americans

By 1860, there were nearly By 1860, there were nearly 250,000 free African Americans, 250,000 free African Americans, mainly working as tenants or farm mainly working as tenants or farm laborers.laborers.

In cities, free African American In cities, free African American communities flourished but had a communities flourished but had a precarious position as their members precarious position as their members lacked basic civil rights.lacked basic civil rights.

D: The White D: The White MajorityMajority

The Middle ClassThe Middle Class

A commercial middle class of merchants, A commercial middle class of merchants, bankers, factors, and lawyers:bankers, factors, and lawyers: arose to sell southern crops on the world arose to sell southern crops on the world

marketmarket lived in cities that acted as shipping centers lived in cities that acted as shipping centers

for agricultural goods for agricultural goods

YeomenYeomen

Two-thirds of all southern whites Two-thirds of all southern whites lived in nonslaveholding families.lived in nonslaveholding families.

Most yeomen were self-sufficient Most yeomen were self-sufficient farmers. farmers.

The strong sense of community was The strong sense of community was reinforced by close kin connections and reinforced by close kin connections and bartering.bartering.

Poor White People Poor White People

Between 30 to 50 percent of southern Between 30 to 50 percent of southern whites were landless. whites were landless.

These poor whites lived a marginal existence These poor whites lived a marginal existence as laborers and tenants.as laborers and tenants.

They engaged in complex and sometimes They engaged in complex and sometimes clandestine relations with slaves.clandestine relations with slaves.

Some yeomen hoped to acquire slaves Some yeomen hoped to acquire slaves themselves, but many were content with self themselves, but many were content with self sufficient non-market agriculture. sufficient non-market agriculture.

Yeomen supported slavery because they Yeomen supported slavery because they believed that it brought them higher status.believed that it brought them higher status.

E: PlantersE: Planters

Small Slave Owners Small Slave Owners

Most slaveholders owned only a few slaves.Most slaveholders owned only a few slaves. Bad crops or high prices that curtailed or Bad crops or high prices that curtailed or

increased income affected slave-holding increased income affected slave-holding statusstatus

Middle class professionals had an easier Middle class professionals had an easier time climbing the ladder of success. time climbing the ladder of success.

Andrew Jackson used his legal and political Andrew Jackson used his legal and political position to rise in Southern society. position to rise in Southern society. Beginning as a landless prosecutor, Jackson Beginning as a landless prosecutor, Jackson died a plantation owner with over 200 died a plantation owner with over 200 slaves. slaves.

The Planter Elite The Planter Elite

Most slaveholders inherited their wealthMost slaveholders inherited their wealth but but sought to expand it. sought to expand it.

As slavery spread so did the slave-owning eliteAs slavery spread so did the slave-owning elite The extraordinary concentration of wealth created The extraordinary concentration of wealth created

an elite lifestyle. an elite lifestyle. Most wealthy planters lived fairly isolated lives. Most wealthy planters lived fairly isolated lives. Some planters cultivated an image of gracious Some planters cultivated an image of gracious

living in the style of English aristocrats, but living in the style of English aristocrats, but plantations were large enterprises that required plantations were large enterprises that required much attention to a variety of tasks. much attention to a variety of tasks.

Plantations aimed to be self-sufficient.Plantations aimed to be self-sufficient.

Robert Barnwell Rhett, Sr.’s home at Beaufort, S.C.

Charlestown, South Carolina 1838

“Friends and Amateurs in Music” by Thomas Middleton [between 1835 and 1840]

Masters and Mistresses Masters and Mistresses

Following southern paternalism, in theory, each Following southern paternalism, in theory, each plantation was a family with the white master at its plantation was a family with the white master at its head. head.

The plantation mistress ran her own The plantation mistress ran her own household but did not challenge her household but did not challenge her husband’s authority.husband’s authority.

With slaves to do much of the labor conventionally With slaves to do much of the labor conventionally assigned to women, it is no surprise that plantation assigned to women, it is no surprise that plantation mistresses accepted the system. mistresses accepted the system.

Coercion and ViolenceCoercion and Violence

The slave system rested on The slave system rested on coercion and violence.coercion and violence.

Slave women were vulnerable to Slave women were vulnerable to sexual exploitation, though long-term sexual exploitation, though long-term relationships developed. relationships developed.

Children of master-slave relationships Children of master-slave relationships seldom were publicly acknowledged seldom were publicly acknowledged and often remained in bondageand often remained in bondage

Abolitionist engraving by Alex Lawson: “Barbarity committed on a free African, who was found on the ensuing morning, by the side of the road,

dead!”

The slave deck of Wildfire, 1860

The death of Elijah P. Lovejoy in Alton, Illinois in 1837 after 4th printing press destroyed

F: The Defense of F: The Defense of SlaverySlavery

Proslavery Arguments Proslavery Arguments

Slavery gave rise to various pro-slavery Slavery gave rise to various pro-slavery arguments including:arguments including: in the post-Revolution era, Southern whites found in the post-Revolution era, Southern whites found

justifications in the Bible or classical Greece and justifications in the Bible or classical Greece and Rome Rome

the Constitution recognized slavery and that they the Constitution recognized slavery and that they were defending property rightswere defending property rights

by the 1830s arguments developed that slavery by the 1830s arguments developed that slavery was good for the slaves.was good for the slaves.

George Fitzhugh contrasted slavery, which George Fitzhugh contrasted slavery, which created a community of interests, with the created a community of interests, with the heartless individualism that ruled the lives of heartless individualism that ruled the lives of northern factory workers.northern factory workers.

Southern Antislavery Arguments Southern Antislavery Arguments

Despite efforts to stifle debate, some Despite efforts to stifle debate, some southern whites objected to slavery.southern whites objected to slavery.

The growing cost of slaves meant The growing cost of slaves meant that the percentage of that the percentage of slaveholders was declining and slaveholders was declining and class divisions widening.class divisions widening.

Hinton Rowan Helper denounced the Hinton Rowan Helper denounced the institution.institution.

Free Black Jehu Jones’ Charleston hotel

Population Patterns in the Population Patterns in the South, 1850South, 1850

In six southern states, slaves In six southern states, slaves comprised over 40 percent of the comprised over 40 percent of the total population.total population.

Theodore Dwight Weld, 1803 – 1895 – he attempted to radicalize Lane Theological Seminary to abolitionism – formed Oberline – married Angelina Emily Grimke in 1838

Sarah Moore Grimke, 1792 – 1873 -- she and her sister Angelina left

Charleston home to live in Philadelphia as abolitionists

Arthur Tappan – he and brother Lewis were NY evangelicals committed to abolitionism – funded Anti-Slavery Society, Oberlin College, the Liberator

Wendell Phillips, 1811 – 1884 --- on the Boston Common

Lucretia Mott, 1793 - 1880

Susan B. Anthony [r], 1820 – 1906 and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, 1815 - 1902