Cotton & Slavery – Day 3Cotton & Slavery – Day 3• Analyze how critics and supporters of Analyze how critics and supporters of

slavery explained their positions.slavery explained their positions.• Describe the living conditions of Describe the living conditions of

enslaved African Americansenslaved African Americans• Discuss the types of resistance that Discuss the types of resistance that

slaves practiced.slaves practiced.

Bell Work 3Bell Work 3Time TableTime Table

• Bell Work – Bell Work – 10 min.10 min.

• Lecture Notes Lecture Notes – 25 min.– 25 min.

• Civil War – Civil War – 20 20 min.min.

• What kind of words are What kind of words are the following: Level, the following: Level, civic, madam and eye?civic, madam and eye?

• What was the What was the Emancipation Emancipation Proclamation and Proclamation and about how many years about how many years into the Civil War was into the Civil War was it issued?it issued?

• ““I don’t have a I don’t have a girlfriend. But I do girlfriend. But I do know a woman who know a woman who would be mad at me would be mad at me for saying that.”for saying that.”

• Mitch HedbergMitch Hedberg

The Slave SystemThe Slave System• Southerners and SlaverySoutherners and Slavery

– Cotton plantations increased Cotton plantations increased by 3.5 million from 1790-1860by 3.5 million from 1790-1860

– Slavery became the foundation Slavery became the foundation of the Southern economy.of the Southern economy.

– Despite this some, mostly Despite this some, mostly upper south southerners upper south southerners criticized it.criticized it.

– Supporters claimed slaves Supporters claimed slaves were treated as well as poor were treated as well as poor factory workers.factory workers.

• Slave LaborSlave Labor– More than 75% of enslaved More than 75% of enslaved

African Americans lived and African Americans lived and worked on plantations.worked on plantations.

– This life was traditionally This life was traditionally more grim than city slavesmore grim than city slaves

– Sometimes working 18-20 Sometimes working 18-20 hour days during harvesthour days during harvest

• ““Begin work when they can see, Begin work when they can see, and quit work when they can’t and quit work when they can’t see.”see.”

– On large plantations On large plantations overseers were used to overseers were used to manage the slavesmanage the slaves

– Drivers assisted overseers, Drivers assisted overseers, chosen from the slaveschosen from the slaves

• Slaves rarely appreciated Slaves rarely appreciated driversdrivers

• Slave LifeSlave Life– Despite where slaves lived or Despite where slaves lived or

what type of owners they had. what type of owners they had. All had very little control over All had very little control over their lives.their lives.

– Most lived in one room Most lived in one room cabins with only a dirt floor cabins with only a dirt floor and a fire place.and a fire place.

– Food was rationed but not Food was rationed but not often enough to survive onoften enough to survive on

• Slaves often had to hunt, fish Slaves often had to hunt, fish and grow foodand grow food

• Some stole foodSome stole food– Clothes were made from a Clothes were made from a

coarse cloth similar to burlap.coarse cloth similar to burlap.

• Treatment of slaves Treatment of slaves varied from plantation to varied from plantation to plantation.plantation.– Some planters used gifts Some planters used gifts

to gain obedience.to gain obedience.– Some used violenceSome used violence

• Whipping was the most Whipping was the most common form of common form of punishment.punishment.

• Many slaves refused to cry Many slaves refused to cry out in an attempt to resist out in an attempt to resist their master.their master.

• Occasionally slaves would Occasionally slaves would band together to protect a band together to protect a fellow slave.fellow slave.

• Slave CultureSlave Culture– After dark and on Sundays, slave After dark and on Sundays, slave

had a chance to develop family had a chance to develop family and community.and community.

• Preserving family proved difficultPreserving family proved difficult• Many slaves went to dangerous Many slaves went to dangerous

extents to contact familyextents to contact family– Because many slaves were not Because many slaves were not

allowed to be literate, the spoken allowed to be literate, the spoken word became very importantword became very important

– Slaves used folktales to preserve Slaves used folktales to preserve and pass on their cultureand pass on their culture

– Humor was important to slaves Humor was important to slaves for survival, a way of maintaining for survival, a way of maintaining hope in a horrible situationhope in a horrible situation

• Whites often misinterpreted laughter Whites often misinterpreted laughter as a sign that slaves were happy as a sign that slaves were happy with their situationwith their situation

– Music played an Music played an important role in slaves important role in slaves liveslives

– Its African heritage was Its African heritage was rooted in its rhythmic rooted in its rhythmic structure, strong beat, structure, strong beat, and communal singing.and communal singing.

• Music was a way to Music was a way to escapeescape

– Slaves also expressed Slaves also expressed themselves though art themselves though art such as wood carvings, such as wood carvings, pottery and basket pottery and basket weaving.weaving.

• Slave ReligionSlave Religion– Most worship services Most worship services

included a blend of included a blend of Christian and traditional Christian and traditional African elements.African elements.

– White southerners White southerners censored these meetings censored these meetings in fear of a rebellionin fear of a rebellion

– Spirituals were an Spirituals were an important part of slave important part of slave religion.religion.

• Sorrowful songs rich in Sorrowful songs rich in biblical teachingsbiblical teachings

• Rebellion and ResistanceRebellion and Resistance– Slaves turned to revolts on Slaves turned to revolts on

a number of different a number of different occasions seeking freedomoccasions seeking freedom

– On one occasion a deeply On one occasion a deeply religious Nat Turner religious Nat Turner believed God had called believed God had called him to free the slaves.him to free the slaves.

– He and his followers killed He and his followers killed over 100 whites in two over 100 whites in two months.months.

– He was caught and hanged.He was caught and hanged.– These uprisings forced These uprisings forced

stricter slave codes.stricter slave codes.

– Violent revolts were rare Violent revolts were rare but resistance never but resistance never stoppedstopped

• Faking illnessesFaking illnesses• Work slowdownsWork slowdowns• Breaking tool Breaking tool • Damaging other propertyDamaging other property

– The most tempting was The most tempting was running awayrunning away

– Some slaves mailed Some slaves mailed themselves to freedom themselves to freedom

– Some utilized the Some utilized the Underground RailroadUnderground Railroad