AP USH CH10: SOUTH AND SLAVERY

Alabama Fever

period during the early 19th century when people were eager to move to Alabama due to its economic opportunities, particularly in agriculture, coincided with the westward expansion of the United States, and as more settlers moved into the southeastern part of the country, Alabama became a popular destination for people looking to take advantage of its fertile land for farming. In the early 1800s, especially after Alabama became a state in 1819, settlers were drawn to the region for the promise of prosperity through agriculture, especially cotton farming, which was highly profitable at the time. As people flocked to Alabama and the Deep South for economic opportunities, slavery became more entrenched as an institution, making Alabama a key player in the cotton economy.

Second Great Awakening

religious revival movement in the United States during the early 19th century, roughly from the 1790s to the 1840s. It emphasized personal faith, emotional religious experiences, and the idea of salvation available to all people. This movement led to the growth of new religious denominations, such as the Methodists and Baptists, and had a profound influence on social reforms, including the abolition of slavery, women's rights, and temperance.

Absalom Jones

(1746–1818) was the first African American ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Church. A former slave, he became a prominent religious leader, abolitionist, and founder of the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas in Philadelphia. He worked to improve the lives of African Americans and advocated for the abolition of slavery.

Richard Allen

(1760–1831) was an African American preacher, founder of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, and a prominent abolitionist. Originally born into slavery, he purchased his freedom and became a key leader in the religious and social movement for African Americans, advocating for both spiritual and civil rights. He established the AME Church in 1816 as the first independent African American denomination.

Second Middle Passage

refers to the internal slave trade within the United States during the 19th century, where enslaved Africans were forcibly relocated from the Upper South (mainly states like Virginia and Maryland) to the Deep South (such as Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana). This trade intensified after the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade in 1808 and was driven by the expansion of cotton plantations.

Solomon Northup

a free African American man who was kidnapped in 1841 and sold into slavery for 12 years in the South. His experiences were detailed in his memoir, Twelve Years a Slave, which became an important work in the abolitionist movement. Northup was eventually freed in 1853, and his story became a powerful testament to the horrors of slavery.

Nat Turner

an enslaved African American who led a violent rebellion in Virginia in 1831, it was one of the most significant slave uprisings in U.S. history. Him and his followers killed around 60 white people before being captured. The rebellion led to harsh retaliatory measures against enslaved people and increased fear of slave uprisings in the South. He was executed, but his revolt fueled the abolitionist movement.

Antebellum South

period in the Southern United States before the Civil War (roughly from the late 18th century to 1861). It was characterized by a plantation economy based on slavery, especially the cultivation of cotton, tobacco, and rice. The region had a rigid social hierarchy, with enslaved African Americans forming the foundation of the labor force, and the political, economic, and cultural life was deeply intertwined with the institution of slavery.

Harriet Jacobs

an African American writer and abolitionist best known for her autobiography, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, which detailed her experiences as an enslaved woman. She spent years hiding in a small attic to escape sexual exploitation by her enslaver, and her work highlighted the unique struggles faced by enslaved women. She became an important figure in the abolitionist movement and in the fight for women's rights.

Gag Rule

series of legislative measures in the U.S. Congress during the 1830s and 1840s that prohibited the discussion or petitioning of abolitionism and slavery. These rules were intended to suppress the growing abolitionist movement by preventing debates on slavery in Congress, particularly in response to petitions from anti-slavery groups. The most notable rule was passed in 1836 and was eventually repealed in 1844.

The Liberator

an abolitionist newspaper founded by William Lloyd Garrison in 1831. It advocated for the immediate emancipation of enslaved people and equal rights for African Americans. The publication played a key role in the abolitionist movement, challenging the pro-slavery status quo and promoting moral suasion to end slavery. Garrison published it until 1865, when slavery was abolished.

The Impending Crisis

(1857) was a book written by Hinton Rowan Helper, a Southern critic and writer. It argued that slavery was economically harmful to non-slaveholding whites in the South and that the institution of slavery hindered the region's economic development. The book was highly controversial and widely condemned in the South but was influential in the abolitionist movement and contributed to tensions leading up to the Civil War.

King Cotton

dominant crop in the economy of the Southern United States before the Civil War, became the South's most important cash crop, largely due to the invention of the ___ gin in 1793, which made processing it more efficient. This led to a heavy reliance on slave labor and made it the backbone of the Southern economy, often referred to as the "king" of the region’s agricultural output.

Sarah and Angelina Grimke

American sisters and abolitionists who were born into a wealthy slaveholding family in South Carolina. They became outspoken advocates for the abolition of slavery and women's rights, wrote Letters on the Equality of the Sexes and the Condition of Woman (1838), and pamphlet Appeal to the Christian Women of the South (1836) called for Southern women to stand against slavery. Their activism was groundbreaking, as they were among the first women to speak publicly against slavery, challenging both racial and gender norms of the time.

Gabriel Prosser

an enslaved African American who led a planned uprising in Virginia in 1800. Known as Gabriel's Rebellion, his goal was to overthrow the system of slavery and gain freedom for enslaved people. The plan was foiled before it could be executed, and he, along with many others involved in the plot, was captured and executed. Despite the failure of the rebellion, his efforts inspired later slave resistance movements.

Denmark Vesey

an enslaved African American who planned a large-scale slave rebellion in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1822. After purchasing his freedom, he became a leader in the local African American community and organized a plot to rise up against slavery. The rebellion was discovered before it could be carried out, and he and many others were arrested and executed. His attempted revolt is considered one of the most significant acts of resistance to slavery in the United States.

Underground Railroad

secret network of safe houses and routes that helped enslaved African Americans escape to free states and Canada during the 19th century. It was run by abolitionists and sympathizers, including Harriet Tubman, and provided assistance such as transportation, shelter, and guidance. Though not a literal railroad, it was vital in the fight against slavery.

Yeoman

a small-scale farmer who owned and worked their own land, typically in the Southern United States before the Civil War. They were distinct from wealthy plantation owners, as they did not rely on enslaved labor, although some did own a few slaves. They were considered an important part of the agrarian economy but often faced economic challenges due to limited resources.