"Old South" Flashcards
King Cotton
Cotton becomes major cash crop after war of 1812
Industrial revolution increased demand for cotton
Land owners referred to region as the cotton kingdom
2/3 exports in US was cotton
Deep South
Area south of mason-dixon line between Pennsylvania and Maryland
Northern-small farmers
Southern-Large cash crops
Deep South - Parts of south where cotton plantations were most prevelant
Southern Trade/Industry
No canals but rivers were plentiful
Some industrial improvement closer to ports and cities
-Flour mills, Textile mills and small iron factories
No industrial revolution
Transportation and communication were limited
Planters
Wealthy people who own large plantations
Not many were as wealthy as depicted
Only 1/4 of whites in the south owned slaves
Referred to as a dominant minority
Served in Govt. roles
Owned majority of the mills and factories
Promote a cavalier image
Romanticized themselves and carried themselves as noble aristocrats
Plain Folks
Not rich and not a planter
Small farmers living throughout the cotton belt
Mostly grew to support the cotton industry
Some resented the planters
Some see planter as their future
Poor Whites
Poor white trash -Didn't own land would rent instead -Typically sold their services to upper class Hill People -Lived in the foothills and mountains -Areas not suited for farming -Very Independent -Did not trust the planters -Many had social/family ties to the north -Many were anti-slavery Crackers -Florida/Georgia areas -Cattle farmers -Whips would make cracking sound to herd cattle
Peculiar Institution
Common term in literature that means slavery
1830-1850 South was only area in the world still allowing slavery besides Brazil and Spanish controlled islands
Legal Basis of Slavery
Federal Govt. taking more control of whether states are free or slave states
Slave/Free states need to be balanced in congress
Slave trade is shut down per the constitution (no slaves could come in or out if the US)
Slave Codes
-State/Local set of rules to regulate slaves (varied based on region)
-As time goes on codes become more strict and cruel
Systems and Structures
Small vs. Large slave holdings SMALL -Somewhat safer -Worked more closely with master -Constantly being watched -Lonelier LARGE -Slaves easily replaced -More socializing -Less supervision -Horrible physical abuse -Overseer/Driver paid by production
Classes and Jobs
House servants -Better food and clothes Skilled workers -Better jobs Field Hands -Hard brutal work
Task and Gang Systems
Task system more common in earlier times
-When task was completed the work day was done
Gang System came around in later years
-Sunrise to Sunset and there is always another job to be done
Freedmen
Free African Americans where slavery existed
- Indentured servants
- Freed Slaves
Slave Trade
Importing/Exporting slaves banned (though it still went on illegally)
Sales/Trade within the US still legal
Northern states began trading/selling slaves to the south
Trade began dwindling everywhere except the south
Resistance
Slaves often paced themselves or broke equipment in order to slow work
Runaways and Revolts
-1831 Nat Turner’s revolt in Virginia
