Chapter 11: COTTON, SLAVERY, AND THE OLD SOUTH

Q #1DQ #1: To what extent did the staple crop shape a Southern Way of Life?

I. Focus on Agriculture Causes a Lack of Industrialization

A. Farming in the South

  • Decline of tobacco= cultivation of short-staple cottoneasy cash crop, didn’t exhaust land
  • By 1850 south considered “cotton kingdom” from SC to TX
  • South had prosperous agriculture= felt no need for involvement in manufacturing invested capital on slaves + agriculture
  • Need for cotton in textile industry in GB and NE = business for south
  • South wanted self-sufficiency but dependent on N + NW for manufacturing b/c resources focused on farming
  • Southern factories rare  if present only served local needs

B. Lack of Incentive to Industrialize

  • No $ invested in internal improvement b/c all resources used for cotton
  • No industrialization b/c no efficient way to N/ NE
  • traditional values distinctive to South discouraged cities + industry
  • prioritized elegance + more refined life rather than rapid growth
  • no industrialization = south setback from north = furthered sectionalism

II. Farming Class Builds Successful Southern Economy

A. Elite Class

  • Farmers create prosperous southern agricultural econ.  use of slaves + land vital
  • Owned 40-50 slaves did all physical labor = made planters more $
  • Booming cotton industry = $$$
  • Fluctuation in econ. made farming risky
  • Elite planter class responsible for social, economic + political affairs ruling class of S
  • Lived on large plantations w/ lavish estates + large land plots to accommodate farming needs
  • Often had multiple homes for vacation + traveled to GB to escape isolation in S

B. Women

  • Women completely dominated by men more so that N + NE
  • Isolated on farms only role was domestic, rarely contributed to farming or defied domestic role
  • Some men had sexual relations w/ slaves = hostility from women towards slaves
  • Even w/ econ. increase from cotton, women remained uneducated/ reliant on men

C. Yeoman Farmers

  • Modest living a few slaves (if any), worked alongside slaves on small farms
  • Miniscule contribution to cotton market despite larger pop. than elite farmers
  • Most remained unchanged economically some still in debt
  • Very rare to move up in social class b/c poor education little power compared to plantation owners = remained self sufficient
  • Although over powered by elite class, did not oppose b/c of plantation aristocracy
  • Gave access to tools, market opportunity, livestock + financial assistance

III.Non Slave Owning Whites Break Sectional Conformity

A. The “Hill People”

  • Extremely isolated from rest of south = didn’t influence culture/econ.
  • Opposed slavery b/c threatened independence
  • Nationalistic views remained from previous political beliefs
  • hostile towards elite class no major conflicts arose b/c too poor
  • Not involved w/ cotton industry = sectionalized from rest of south + no contribution to culture/ econ
  • No cotton = no $ = no progress culturally, economically or educationally
  • Poverty ridden b/c land obtained was unfit for farming  many died of illness/starvation

CONCLUSION:Beginning in the mid-nineteenth-century, the south experienced a cultural and economic transformation due to its cultivation of short-staple cotton, shaping the way of living for all who were involved directly as well as indirectly. This staple crop effectively built a successful economy and provided the capital to expand the agricultural economy. However, the strong focus on agriculture prevented the south from the possible expansion and industrialization achieved by the north. In addition, the cotton industry isolated the lower class who became poverty-stricken due to a lack of involvement in farming. Although the cotton crop created a booming economy for the south, the staple crop ultimately prevented industrialization, as well as sectionalized social classes to create a poverty ridden lower class.