01:512:104 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Cotton Gin, Upland South, White Southerners
13 May 2018
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Chapter 11 - Cotton, Slavery, and the Old South
1)The Cotton Economy
a)The Rise of King Cotton
i)19th century upper South (VA, MD, NC) cultivated tobacco, but unstable
prices and exhaustive of soil. By 1830s upper South began to grow wheat,
tobacco growing shifted westward. Southern regions of South (SC, GA, FL)
continued growing rice, Gulf some sugar—crops limited b/c hard to cultivate
ii)Decline of tobacco in upper South led not to industrialization but growing of
short-staple cotton- could grow in difft env’ts, w/ cotton gin now profitable.
Demand for cotton growing b/c of rise of textile industry in GB 1820s/30s and
New England 1840s/50s—new lands and expansion to meet new demand
iii)Beginning 1820s production of cotton moved westward into Alabama,
Mississippi, LA, TX, AK. By 1850s dominated economy
iv)“Lower South”/ “Cotton Kingdom” attracted many seeking profits, also
slaves
b)Southern Trade and Industry
i)Business classes and manufacturers unimportant, slow growth + mainly in
upper South. Non-farm commercial sectors mainly served needs of plantation
economy- brokers who marketed crops, acted as merchants and lenders
ii)Primitive banking system did not allow for structures necessary for industrial
development. Inadequate transport system: few roads, canals, nat’l railroads
iii)Some southerners recognized economic subordination to north and
advocated for economic independence- New Orlean James De Bow- De
Bow’s Review
c)Sources of Southern Difference
i)Despite “colonial dependency” South did little to industrialize b/c agricultural
system + cotton so profitable, little incentive to look beyond. Wealthy had
already invested much of their capital into land + slaves
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ii)Lack of commercial growth also b/c traditional values distinctive to South
discouraged cities + industry- elegance, more refined life than rapid growth
2)White Society in The South
a)The Planter Class
i)Majority of ppl didn’t own slaves (only ¼ did), of those small % owned many
ii)Planter aristocracy (those earning 40+ slaves and 800+ acres of land)
exercised power and influence greater than their number. Political economic,
social control. Saw themselves as aristocracy, though most wealth was recent
iii)Growing crops profitable but as competitive and risky as industry in North
iv)After struggling to reach their position in society they were determined to
defend it—perhaps why defense of slavery and South’s “rights” stronger in
booming lower South and weaker in more established areas
b)“Honor”
i)White males adopted code of chivalry that obligated them to defend their
“honor”. Ethical ideal and bravery but also public appearance of dignity &
authority- anything to challenge dignity or social station a challenge
c)The “Southern Lady”
i)Lives of affluent centered in home, little role in public activities or as wage
earners. White men more dominant + women subordinate than in North-
solitary farm life w/ no access to “public world” led to main role wife, mother
ii)Less educational opportunities, higher birth rate and infant mortality rate
d)The Plain Folk
i)Typical person not planter + slaveholder but modest yeoman farmer. Mainly
subsistence farming- lacked resources for cotton or to expand operations
ii)Little prospect of bettering position b/c southern educational system
provided poor whites with little opportunity to learn and therefore advance
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Chapter 11 - cotton, slavery, and the old south. 1)the cotton economy a)the rise of king cotton i)19th century upper south (va, md, nc) cultivated tobacco, but unstable prices and exhaustive of soil. By 1830s upper south began to grow wheat, tobacco growing shifted westward. Demand for cotton growing b/c of rise of textile industry in gb 1820s/30s and. New england 1840s/50s new lands and expansion to meet new demand iii)beginning 1820s production of cotton moved westward into alabama, By 1850s dominated economy iv) lower south / cotton kingdom attracted many seeking profits, also slaves b)southern trade and industry i)business classes and manufacturers unimportant, slow growth + mainly in upper south. Non-farm commercial sectors mainly served needs of plantation economy- brokers who marketed crops, acted as merchants and lenders ii)primitive banking system did not allow for structures necessary for industrial development.
