Lecture Notes: Slavery in America - The Institution and Its Effects

Overview

• Focus on the institution of slavery and its effects on those enslaved.
• Next lecture will cover the abolition movement and efforts to end slavery.

Southern Economy and Slavery

• The South relied on agriculture, especially cotton, requiring labor-intensive cultivation.
• Cotton gin innovation allowed for expansion in cotton production.
• Regional differences in the South:
  • Lower South (Cotton Kingdom): Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas - heavily reliant on cotton.
  • Upper South (more diversified): Carolinas, Virginia - smaller farms, mix of agriculture.

Socioeconomic Structure

• Wealth concentrated among a small elite of large landowners who dominated politics and culture.
• Most Southern whites (yeoman farmers) owned few or no slaves.
• Poor whites had no resources and often worked as hired hands.

Racial Hierarchies and Slavery

• Southern society accepted racial differentiation as a norm.
• Non-whites, particularly blacks, were considered inferior; free blacks had limited rights.
• High slave populations led to fear among whites, particularly where slaves outnumbered whites (e.g., South Carolina and Mississippi).

Control and Intimidation

• Physical and psychological intimidation used to control slaves.
• Restricted movement and lack of education limited slaves’ ability to resist or escape.
• Alcohol used as a control method during holidays.

Slave Community and Resistance

• Slaves maintained heritage and resisted subtly.
• Family and community networks were strong among slaves.
• Secret religious services provided spiritual independence.
• Subtle resistance included working slowly and breaking tools.

Notable Slave Rebellions

• Gabriel Prosser (1800): Planned rebellion in Virginia foiled by a hurricane; leaders executed.
• Denmark Vesey (1822): Planned rebellion in South Carolina; inspired fear among whites; free black church shut down.
• Nat Turner (1831): Successful attack on Virginia plantations; resulted in harsh backlash and legislation.

Southern Defense of Slavery

• South developed narratives to defend slavery and counter the abolition movement.
• Arguments included historical precedents, economic necessity, tautology (legal arguments), religious justification, and pseudo-scientific theories.
• Phrenology and drapedomania were used as pseudo-scientific justifications.

Conclusion

• Southern efforts intensified to protect slavery and create a positive narrative around it.
• Next lecture will discuss the rise of the abolition movement and its impact.