Rise of the Cotton Kingdom

Upper South

Maryland, Virginia, and N. Carolina Produced tobacco, hemp, wheat, and vegetables

Deep South

Georgia, S. Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas Rice, Sugarcane, and Cotton (depended upon cotton) Slavery very prominent Cotton Gin 1793 Eli Whitney

Industry in the South

Prospered 1820-1860 Less manufacturing than the North Barriers

Lack of money or capital Large portion of population consisted of Slaves

Southern Transportation

Railroads but less than north, were local, problem during Civil War Natural Waterways

The South’s People Small Farms and Rural Poor

Majority of the South’s farmers Yeomens—did not own slaves Tenant Farmers – rented land, paid with goods or money

Plantations

Wealthy land owners Several thousand acres Very few, measured wealth by number of slaves Fewer than 4% had more than 20 slaves

Plantation Owners

Fixed Costs – regular costs to run the plantation Credit—form of loan Many were in debt Wives

In charge of watching over enslaved workers Difficult lonely life

Domestic Slaves – house work Blacksmiths, carpenters, shoemakers, or weavers…small towns..

Slavery

Family Life No protection for families Extended family (important)

Slave codes

Laws for enslaved people Cannot teach to read or write Cannot assemble in large groups

Escaping Slavery

Underground railroad Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglas (abolitionists)

Underground Railroad

Network of routes to the North “Follow the Drinking Gourd” Hide in houses, barns, under wagons Opposition in the North

Many whites still disliked the idea South

Said they treated slaves well Gave them food, clothes, living quarters