Brinkley The Unfinished Nation Chapter Eleven Cotton Slavery

Brinkley, The Unfinished Nation Chapter Eleven: Cotton, Slavery, and the Old South • The Cotton Economy • Southern White Society • Slavery: The “Peculiar Institution” • The Culture of Slavery

Chapter Eleven: Cotton, Slavery, and the Old South u The Cotton Economy – The Rise of King Cotton u Declining Tobacco Economy – Unstable u Short-Staple Cotton - Hardier u Increasing Cotton Cultivation – former Indian lands u 2/3 of Total U. S. Exports u Rapid Expansion of Slavery and Cotton in the South, 1820 & 1860 2

Chapter Eleven: Cotton, Slavery, and the Old South u Southern Trade and Industry – Vast majority of economy = cotton exports – Obstacles to Economic Development u Inadequate Financing u Poor transportation – – Rivers & coastal ports – Few railroads Interactive Map: Cotton and Slavery in the Old South, 1820 -1861 3

Chapter Eleven: Cotton, Slavery, and the Old South u The Cotton Economy – Sources of Southern Difference u. Sources of Uneven Development – Agriculture remains profitable – No incentives for industry u. Image of Southern “Way of life” – “Special graciousness” – Did it conform to reality? Plantations In Louisiana along Lower Mississippi River, ca 4

Chapter Eleven: Cotton, Slavery, and the Old South u Southern White Society – Few owned slaves: 1860, 400 K of 8 million (5%) – The Planter Class u Planter Aristocracy’s Dominance u The Aristocratic Ideal – “honor” – “chivalry” (dueling) u Military OK, not trade or commerce A Georgia Plantation 5

Chapter Eleven: Cotton, Slavery, and the Old South u Southern White Society – The “Southern Lady” u. Female Subordination Reinforced – Crafts, farm tasks not suitable – Education only for role of wife – In upper society, only “Ornament” u. Special Burdens – 20% higher birth rate – Men’s sexual relations with 6

Chapter Eleven: Cotton, Slavery, and the Old South u The Plain Folk u Typical white southerner = yeoman farmer (not rich) – Inadequate Educational Opportunities u Many southern colleges for “sons of plantations” u Elementary, secondary schools poor, backward – High rate of illiteracy – “Hill People” u “Poor white trash” – Dependence on the Plantation 7

Chapter Eleven: Cotton, Slavery, and the Old South u Slavery: The “Peculiar Institution” – By Mid 19 th Cent, Slavery Only in South (+ Brazil/Cuba/Puerto Rico) – Varieties of Slavery u Slave Codes – No rights in court – No marriage – No right of self-defense u Paternal Relationship The Business of Slavery (Library of Congress) 8

Chapter Eleven: Cotton, Slavery, and the Old South u Life Under Slavery – Harsh Work Conditions – Poor diet, health care – High Mortality Rates u > Imports banned, population shrinks u High birth rate, low survival odds – Sexual Abuse u Household Slaves More Vulnerable u First to leave after emancipation Bearing the mark of slavery 9

Chapter Eleven: Cotton, Slavery, and the Old South u Slavery in the Cities – Relative Autonomy of Urban Slaves – Skilled laborers u Free Blacks – Elizabeth Keckley – Mary Lincoln’s Companion – New Restrictions on Manumission u After 1830’s u Reaction to Slave Rebellions – Some communities of free blacks in South Elizabeth Keckley 10

Chapter Eleven: Cotton, Slavery, and the Old South u Slave Resistance – Adaptation and Resistance – Slave Revolts u Denmark Vesey (1822) u Nat Turner rebellion (1831) u Spurred abolition movement – Day-to-Day Slave Resistance“Nat Turner Preaches Interactive link to PBS Resources on Slave Rebellion: Slave Rebellions Youtube Video of Black Seminole Rebellion, 1836 -48 Religion” 11

Chapter Eleven: Cotton, Slavery, and the Old South u The Culture of Slavery Audio: Paul Robeson, “Swing Low” – Slave Religion u. Slaveowners Suppressed Independent Slave Churches u. Black Christian Worship Differs – More Music 12

Chapter Eleven: Cotton, Slavery, and the Old South u Language and Music – “Pidgin” Audio: B. J. Reagon, “We are climbing Jacob’s Ladder” u Similarity with “rap” and “hip- hop” – Importance of Slave Spirituals u Derived from African rhythm, traditions u Dance u Storytelling Slaves at their quarters, ca. 1860 13

Chapter Eleven: Cotton, Slavery, and the Old South u The Slave Family – Slave Marriages u 1/3 of all slave families broken apart by slave trade u Extended family network – Paternalism u Mutual dependence u Instrument of white control Slave auction in Virginia 14