Study Notes for Chapters 12-15
Old South
Time Frame: 1793 to 1865
Start Date: 1793 marks the generally accepted invention of the cotton gin, fundamentally changing the South.
End Date: 1865, coinciding with the thirteenth amendment and the abolition of slavery.
Various definitions of where the Old South was located:
Mason-Dixon Line: A survey boundary between Maryland and Pennsylvania; traditionally considered the southern boundary.
Issues with this definition: if extended to the Atlantic, it incorrectly includes parts of New Jersey as Southern.
Seceded States: States that seceded to form the Confederacy in 1860-1861 (11 states).
Not all Southern states seceded, hence, this definition is flawed.
States with Legal Slavery: The most encompassing definition includes states where enslaved labor was legally permitted.
Number of States in 1860: 15 states where slavery was legal, with Delaware being a notable exception that complicates this definition.
Cavalier Legend
The belief the South was populated solely by wealthy aristocrats (cavaliers) with no poor individuals.
Originates from the historical context of the English Civil War (1640-1660), where aristocrats avoided persecution by moving to the colonies.
Key Figures: Cavaliers were supporters of the king and fled to the colonies for safety.
Reality Check: The majority (75%) of early Virginians were indentured servants, contradicting the cavalier myth.
Plantation Myth: The assumption that the entirety of Southern society was characterized by large plantations owned by these cavaliers.
Influence of Myths: The myths, based on a small percentage of reality, shaped perceptions of the Southern lifestyle, typically romanticized in literature (e.g., works of Sir Walter Scott).
Several groups contributed to the perpetuation of these myths:
Abolitionists: Portrayed the South as a land of brutal slave owners and submissive enslaved laborers to strengthen their abolitionist campaigns.
Southerners: Idealized their society to resonate with the romantic notions of aristocracy and chivalry, thus aiding in myth propagation.
Post-Civil War Writers: Southern Renaissance writers depicted a nostalgic view of pre-war Southern society, further embedding these myths into culture.
Modern Influences: Works like Gone with the Wind romanticized the plantation life and contributed to current perceptions, often misrepresenting the harsh realities of enslaved life.
Economic Framework of the Old South
Fundamental differences of the South stemmed from its agrarian economy heavily reliant on the institution of slavery.
Initial Economic Standing:
Early rampant use of enslaved labor was limited; indentured servants were favored due to cost efficiency.
Transition Point: 1793 marked a critical change in labor reliance.
Invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney significantly increased the efficiency of cotton production, reshaping Southern economics and agriculture.
With the cotton gin, operations expanded beyond initial capacities, necessitating an increased number of enslaved workers.
Cycle of Cotton Production:
As cotton production increased, so did the reliance on enslaved labor—all feeding into a continual cycle of growth and dependence on slavery.
By the mid-1800s, cotton became known as “king cotton” due to its economic importance, with Southern planters accruing substantial wealth, primarily from slave labor.