Slavery in America Before the Slavery in America Before the
Civil WarCivil War
Slavery in America Before the Slavery in America Before the
Civil WarCivil War
Early Emancipation in Early Emancipation in the Norththe North
Early Emancipation in Early Emancipation in the Norththe North
Missouri Compromise, Missouri Compromise, 18201820
Missouri Compromise, Missouri Compromise, 18201820
Characteristics Characteristics of the of the
Antebellum Antebellum SouthSouth
Characteristics Characteristics of the of the
Antebellum Antebellum SouthSouth
1.1. Primarily agrarian.Primarily agrarian.
2.2. Economic power shifted from the Economic power shifted from the “upper South” to the “lower South.”“upper South” to the “lower South.”
3.3. ““Cotton Is King!”Cotton Is King!” * 1860 * 1860 5 mil. bales a yr. 5 mil. bales a yr. (57% of total US exports). (57% of total US exports).
4.4. Very slow development of Very slow development of industrialization.industrialization.
5.5. Rudimentary financial system.Rudimentary financial system.
6.6. Inadequate transportation system.Inadequate transportation system.
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%]
Southern Southern PopulationPopulationSouthern Southern
PopulationPopulation
Graniteville Textile Graniteville Textile Co.Co.
Graniteville Textile Graniteville Textile Co.Co.
Founded in 1845, it was the South’s first attempt at industrialization in
Graniteville, SC.
Southern Southern AgricultureAgricultureSouthern Southern
AgricultureAgriculture
Slaves Picking CottonSlaves Picking Cottonon a Mississippi on a Mississippi
PlantationPlantation
Slaves Picking CottonSlaves Picking Cottonon a Mississippi on a Mississippi
PlantationPlantation
Slaves Using the Cotton Slaves Using the Cotton GinGin
Slaves Using the Cotton Slaves Using the Cotton GinGin
Changes in Cotton Changes in Cotton ProductionProduction
Changes in Cotton Changes in Cotton ProductionProduction
18201820
18601860
Value of Cotton Exports Value of Cotton Exports As % of All US ExportsAs % of All US Exports
Value of Cotton Exports Value of Cotton Exports As % of All US ExportsAs % of All US Exports
““Hauling the Whole Hauling the Whole Week’s Pickings”Week’s Pickings”
William Henry Brown, William Henry Brown, 18421842
““Hauling the Whole Hauling the Whole Week’s Pickings”Week’s Pickings”
William Henry Brown, William Henry Brown, 18421842
Slaves WorkingSlaves Workingin a Sugar-Boiling in a Sugar-Boiling
House, 1823House, 1823
Slaves WorkingSlaves Workingin a Sugar-Boiling in a Sugar-Boiling
House, 1823House, 1823
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
Anti-Slave PamphletAnti-Slave PamphletAnti-Slave PamphletAnti-Slave Pamphlet
Slave tag, SC
Slave AccoutrementsSlave AccoutrementsSlave AccoutrementsSlave Accoutrements
Slave leg irons
Slave shoes
Distribution of Slave Distribution of Slave Labor in 1850Labor in 1850
Distribution of Slave Distribution of Slave Labor in 1850Labor in 1850
Slave-Owning Population Slave-Owning Population (1850)(1850)
Slave-Owning Population Slave-Owning Population (1850)(1850)
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.
TaraTara – Plantation Reality – Plantation Reality or Myth?or Myth?
TaraTara – Plantation Reality – Plantation Reality or Myth?or Myth?
Hollywood’s Version?Hollywood’s Version?Hollywood’s Version?Hollywood’s Version?
A Real Georgia A Real Georgia PlantationPlantation
A Real Georgia A Real Georgia PlantationPlantation
Scarlet and MammieScarlet and Mammie(Hollywood Again!)(Hollywood Again!)
Scarlet and MammieScarlet and Mammie(Hollywood Again!)(Hollywood Again!)
A Real Mammie & Her A Real Mammie & Her ChargeCharge
A Real Mammie & Her A Real Mammie & Her ChargeCharge
The Southern “Belle”The Southern “Belle”The Southern “Belle”The Southern “Belle”
A Slave FamilyA Slave FamilyA Slave FamilyA Slave Family
The Ledger of John The Ledger of John WhiteWhite
The Ledger of John The Ledger of John WhiteWhite
Matilda Selby, 9, $400.00 sold to Mr. Covington, St. Louis, $425.00
Brooks Selby, 19, $750.00 Left at Home – Crazy
Fred McAfee, 22, $800.00 Sold to Pepidal,Donaldsonville, $1200.00
Howard Barnett, 25, $750.00 Ranaway. Sold out of jail, $540.00
Harriett Barnett, 17, $550.00 Sold to Davenport and Jones, Lafourche, $900.00
US Laws Regarding US Laws Regarding SlaverySlavery
US Laws Regarding US Laws Regarding SlaverySlavery
1. U. S. Constitution: * 3/5s compromise [I.2] * fugitive slave clause [IV.2]
2. 1793 Fugitive Slave Act.
3. 1850 stronger Fugitive Slave Act.
Southern Slavery--> An Southern Slavery--> An Aberration?Aberration?
Southern Slavery--> An Southern Slavery--> An Aberration?Aberration? 1780s: 1st antislavery society created in
Phila.
By 1804: slavery eliminated from last northern state.
1807: the legal termination of the slave trade, enforced by the Royal Navy.
1820s: newly indep. Republics of Central & So. America declared their slaves free.
1833: slavery abolished throughout the British Empire.
1844: slavery abolished in the Fr. colonies.
1861: the serfs of Russia were emancipated.
Slavery Was Less Slavery Was Less Efficient Efficient
in the U. S. than in the U. S. than ElsewhereElsewhere
Slavery Was Less Slavery Was Less Efficient Efficient
in the U. S. than in the U. S. than ElsewhereElsewhere
High cost of keeping slaves fromescaping.
GOAL raise the “exit cost.”u Slave patrols.
u Southern Black Codes.
u Cut off a toe or a foot.
Slave ResistanceSlave ResistanceSlave ResistanceSlave Resistance1. “SAMBO” pattern of behavior used
as a charade in front of whites [the innocent, laughing black man caricature – bulging eyes, thick lips, big smile, etc.].
Slave ResistanceSlave ResistanceSlave ResistanceSlave Resistance2. Refusal to work hard.
3. Isolated acts of sabotage.
4. Escape via the Underground Railroad.
Runaway Slave AdsRunaway Slave AdsRunaway Slave AdsRunaway Slave Ads
Quilt Patterns as Secret Quilt Patterns as Secret MessagesMessages
Quilt Patterns as Secret Quilt Patterns as Secret MessagesMessages
The Monkey Wrench pattern, on the left, alerted escapees to gather up tools and prepare to flee; the Drunkard Path design, on the right, warned escapees not to follow a straight route.
Slave Rebellions Throughout Slave Rebellions Throughout the Americasthe Americas
Slave Rebellions Throughout Slave Rebellions Throughout the Americasthe Americas
Slave Rebellions Slave Rebellions in the Antebellum Southin the Antebellum South
Slave Rebellions Slave Rebellions in the Antebellum Southin the Antebellum South
1822
Gabriel Prosser
1800
Slave Rebellions in the Slave Rebellions in the Antebellum South:Antebellum South:
Nat Turner, Nat Turner, 18311831
Slave Rebellions in the Slave Rebellions in the Antebellum South:Antebellum South:
Nat Turner, Nat Turner, 18311831
The Culture of SlaveryThe Culture of SlaveryThe Culture of SlaveryThe Culture of Slavery1. Black Christianity [Baptists or
Methodists]: * more emotional worship services. * negro spirituals.
2. “Pidgin” or Gullah languages.
3. Nuclear family with extended kin links,where possible.
4. Importance of music in their lives. [esp. spirituals].
Southern Pro-SlaverySouthern Pro-SlaveryPropagandaPropaganda
Southern Pro-SlaverySouthern Pro-SlaveryPropagandaPropaganda