The Cotton Economy
What type of cotton could grow in any climate, but its seeds were difficult to remove?
Short-Staple Cotton
What was the term used to describe the wealthy elite who owned large plantations and dominated the political and economic landscape of the South?
The Planter Class
What was the name of trust enslaved people who acted as foremen to overseers?
Head drivers
What did some slaves use to escape from their masters?
What was the name of the genre of songs among slaves that often had religious themes?
Spirituals
What invention revolutionized cotton production and led to the expansion of slavery in the South and what did it do?
Cotton Gin, helped remove seeds from short-staple cotton
What was the name of the group of people that were seen as below enslaved people because of their poor living conditions?
How did slave codes regulate slaves?
did not allow property ownership, banned congregation of slaves, or the teaching of slaves
What was life like for freed African Americans?
Lived in extreme poverty and had limited job opportunities.
What is the name of the language that mixed African speech with English and why was it made?
Pidgin and it was created to overcome language barriers within the enslaved community.
This influential antebellum Southern publication explained how the South depended on the North economically and advocated for the industrial development of the South.
De Bow's Review
How did the "Cult of Honor" play a role in the antebellum South?
The "Cult of Honor" emphasized personal honor/maintaining one's public appearance, often leading to duels.
What are the two systems of slavery and explain them.
How were slaves transported in the slave trade?
Moved with their masters or through slave traders
Why were slaves dependent on slaveholders?
Depended on slave holders for food, shelter, clothing, sense of security, and protection.
What is the name of the southern white men who values traditional values and were focussed on a gracious way of life?
Cavaliers
What is the difference between the Planter Class and old upper classes in Europe?
The Planter Class had wealth and power that was pretty new to them as they had just recently been able to spend their wealth comfortably. However, old upper classes had titles and power passed down through many generations and wealth came from families.
How was slavery in cities different from rural areas?
Slaves in the urban areas tended to be hired out for unskilled labor, but in rural areas they did plantation work.
How did enslaved people resist against slavery?
physical resistance movements, escaping/running away, refusing to work, steal from their masters
How did the breaking up of African American families lead to strong kinship networks?
The fear of losing family members through slavery brought slave families closer together, making a strong bond of support and unity among them.
As the tobacco economy was on the decline, why did farmers move and name at least two crops they switched to?
Farmers moved because the land was exhausted and began to switch to wheat, sugarcane, rice, and most notably cotton.
Since competing with large plantations was difficult for the plain folk, why did they still stick to working in the plantation system?
Even though it was hard to produce enough to compete against the wealthy planters, they relied on large plantations for a market to sell their crops in and access to machines like the cotton gin.
In what scenarios were slaves commonly set free?
They could have been freed by their masters who were against slavery or freed in their master's will after they had passed.
What did Nat Turner do and what did her actions result in?
In what ways were African American families different from white families? (Name 2 differences)
African American women usually started bearing children at a younger age, and African American couples began living with each other before marriage.