cotton and slavery

Cotton Gin

a machine that removed seeds from cotton fiber

Planter Aristocracy

wealthy class of plantation owners who controlled the South's economy, politics, and society

Upper South

relied on tobacco

Lower South

relied on cotton

Cult of Honor

social system that emphasized chivalry, reputation, and dueling

Task System

enslaved workers were given a specific task and were free for the rest of the day after completing it

Gang System

enslaved people worked in groups under strict supervision for long hours

Slave Codes

restricted the rights of enslaved people

Nat Turner's Rebellion

slave revolt that led to harsher slave laws in the South due to white fears of further uprisings

Amistad Incident

enslaved Africans took control of a ship and were later granted their freedom

Domestic Slave Trade

forced migration of enslaved people within the U.S

Foreign Slave Trade

migration of enslaved people around the world

William L. Yancey

pro-slavery advocate who wanted to reopen the foreign slave trade

Urban Slavery

enslaved people had autonomy here and sometimes earned wages

Southern Women

limited education and roles centered around the home

Mountain Whites

independent farmers in the Appalachian region and opposed the Planter class

Slave Resistance

breaking tools, working slowly, or escaping

Pidgin

simplified language blending African and English words

Tobacco

main crop before cotton

Southern Economy

Tobacco —> Cotton —> Slavery

Tobacco was hard to stay profitable because…

farmers kept on having to move fields because tobacco ruined the soil

Slave Culture

through language they communicated through pidgin which was a simplified form of language (mixture of english and african speech), religion: music was a huge part since through music they would express themselves and their faith as they pass time in the fields 

Chart:

Planter Aristocracy	Old English Aristocracy
New acquired wealth and power	Old money that was passed down
Carefully watched businesses because of the competitive market.	Business was usually leisure and respectable.
Lived modernly from money being tied to slavery and land.	Lived a lavish lifestyle.

Impact of Cotton on Slavery

Growing more cotton meant an increased demand for slaves. Slaves in the Upper South became incredibly more valuable as commodities because of this demand for them in the Deep South.

Slave Auctions

• They would try to preserve their slaves from dying, sometimes spared from dangerous work, and they were auctioned off; autioned for 500-1500 dollars

Slave Code Restrictions:

• Hold Property

• Leave their master’s land without permission

• Carry firearms

• Strike a white southerner

Smaller Slave owners

Majority of slave owners and were smaller farmers

Primitive Character

South never fully industrialized because they did not have the funds to invest in factories as they invested in slaves. Railroads and canals in the south lagged behind northern industries.