APUSH Chapter 16: The South and the Slavery Controversy

Expansion of Slavery

The increase of slavery in the lower South and western lands, creating distinctive regional attitudes.

Southern Pride in Slavery

Many Southern white Americans asserted their regional identity through pride in slavery and sought federal protection for the institution.

Restriction of Citizenship

U.S. and state governments continued to limit African-Americans' citizenship opportunities.

Community Creation among African Americans

Enslaved and free African Americans formed communities and strategies to protect their dignity and family structures.

Abolitionist Movements

Some African Americans launched movements aimed at abolishing slavery and reforming their status.

Cotton Production and Economy

Growth in cotton production fostered national economic ties and fueled the internal slave trade.

Sectionalism and Slavery

The debates surrounding slavery intensified sectionalism in the United States.

Abolitionist Campaigns

Abolitionists mounted visible campaigns against slavery and used strategies of resistance.

Southern Defense of Slavery

States' rights, nullification, and racist stereotyping were used to justify the positive perception of slavery.

Cotton Gin Impact

The invention of the cotton gin led to increased cotton production, making slavery central to the Southern economy.

Plantation Elite Control

Southern politics were dominated by a planter elite, consolidating power and idealizing hierarchical society.

Poor Farmers and Slavery

Impoverished farmers sought to maintain slavery for a sense of superiority and hope for future prosperity.

Gag Resolution (1836)

A measure that prevented anti-slavery petitions from being debated in Congress, later overturned.

Slave Breakers

Handlers who punished slaves for disobedience, often causing severe injury to maintain control.

Mulattos

Children of white masters and their slaves, facing unique hardships and societal rejection.

Christianized Slavery

Slaves combined Christian beliefs with African traditions to express shared struggles.

Responsorial Preaching

A form of worship where the congregation responds affirmatively to the preacher's sermon.

Nat Turner's Rebellion (1831)

A slave revolt led by Nat Turner, resulting in 60 white deaths and increased fears among Southerners.

Amistad Case (1839)

The case of enslaved Africans taking control of a ship, leading to a legal fight for their freedom.

Abolitionist Ideals

Growth of democratic ideals prompted Southern leaders to discuss freeing their slaves.

West Africa Squadron

A British Naval force that seized and freed enslaved individuals on their way to the Americas.

Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852)

A novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe revealing the brutal realities of slavery and family separations.

American Colonization Society (1817)

An organization advocating for the relocation of African Americans to Liberia.

American Anti-Slavery Society

Founded by William Lloyd Garrison, it advocated for immediate abolition of slavery.

The Liberator (1831)

An anti-slavery newspaper published by William Lloyd Garrison calling for immediate abolition.

David Walker's Appeal (1829)

A call for violent resistance against white supremacy authored by abolitionist David Walker.

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (1845)

An autobiography detailing Frederick Douglass's life, advocating for abolition through political means.