Upload
molly-davidson
View
218
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
United States Advanced Placement… Down So LongIn what ways did Southern society resemble feudal Europe? What are some philosophical arguments for the use of slavery?
The Southern Way of Life: Slavery Early Colonial roots- slavery dying out
until the establishment of staple cash crops: need for cheap labor.
Lack of a free society for African Americans- most were enslaved.
Division of society based on money and race.
White Social Hierarchy of the South Plantation owners- slave owners Cotton belt- Planter society (20 or more
slaves) Yeomen farmers- upcountry: owned few
or no slaves. Yet- numerically and geographically,
planters were an extreme minority
Black Social Hierarchy of the South Freed blacks (6%) House slaves vs. field hands Skilled labor vs. unskilled labor
Life of a slave Ken Burn’s: All night forever. Unlike the Caribbean, most slaves lived
near their master and were monitored (little black autonomy)
Used physical (beatings, torture) and psychological (the church, education) tools to reaffirm white supremacy.
Daily Life Generally outnumbered whites by a vast
majority Worked in “gangs” from sunup to sundown-
year round Oversaw by the drivers (sometimes black) Women worked with babies in tow Depending on the size and crop- work varied
(task system for rice; harshest being the sugar cultivation)
Some breaks a louted, Sunday’s were given off
Daily Life Continued ¾ were field workers but others built
buildings, constructed boats, worked as house servants etc.
Generally the highest status were given to those who were preachers and healers
Some worked in the underground economy- growing food on the side or working overtime- purchase their own freedom.
Slave Family Marriage- if lucky- could last 20 years. Encouraged marital fidelity “To death or distance” Could use breakup as a bargaining piece
for compliance Upper South- slave trading was frequent Strong familial ties- through generations
African American Religion Unifying body- religion was encouraged. Combination of African tribal culture and Christianity Organized outside of white Congregations. African Methodist Episcopal Church True worship occurred at night without white
oversight African tribal call & response- less sin and more
rejoice and affirmation of joy Emphasis on redemption and freedom from biblical
versus- Israelites (premonition of freedom to come) Became an organizational body for African AMericans
Rebellion 1800-1831 Gabriel Prosser’s rebellion 1800 (disrupted by
weather) 1811 Louisiana slave revolt- needed
hundreds of troops to stop 1822- Denmark Vesey- organized a potential
revolt to seize Federal arsenals. Virginian raids by ex-slaves or runaways
throughout the antebellum period 1831- Nat Turner’s rebellion 1836-1841- Second Seminole War
Underground Railroad Most participated in running away… “Lying out period”- then return Travel North and South. Others stowed away aboard ships Used their light skin or received help
from the Underground Railroad.
Reactions Slave Codes: No reading, preaching No weapons Marriages not recognized Curfews & passes Vagrancy laws Fugitive Slave Law