Do Now

1. What was the main issue with Andrew Jackson establishing pet banks?

2. Describe the purpose that railroads were developed.

3. Why was the early 1800s referred to as the Era of the Common Man?

4. Explain why students only went to school for less than 3 months.

5. Using your book name three systems of higher education in Mississippi in the Antebellum years.

Slavery in Mississippi

Black Codes• Governor Bienville issued a set of laws in 1724• They granted slaves only a few rights but did provide

protection – Blacks and whites could not marry – Could not own property– Gathering in groups was restricted– When sold, however, could not be separated from families– Could not let them free when they were sick or old– Could not be forced to work on Sundays or holidays– Freed slaves received the privileges of any free citizen

• The French Settlement at Natchez (Fort Rosalie) prospered on behalf of slave labor– Cleared the land and raised tobacco and indigo

Cotton Production

• Agriculture and lumber production was the main occupation for slaves

• Invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney in 1793 increased the production and growth of cotton in Mississippi and in the south

• A slave named Barclay with the help from others built the first gin in Mississippi

King Cotton!!!!

• The name describes the importance of cotton to Mississippi

• Land in Mississippi was very fertile to grow cotton

• Most cotton was grown with slave labor on relatively large farms or plantations

• About half of the slave owners owned no more than 5 slaves and only 19 had more than 300 slaves

Being Enslaved• Besides raising cotton, slaves also cooked,

cleaned house, tended livestock, made clothes, and cared for small children

• Some slaves worked as blacksmiths and carpenters and they were hired out

• An overseer was hired to supervise the slave if the owner did not live on the land

• Owners and overseers enforced rules in many ways such as whipping but they also gave incentives for good behavior- extra clothing, time off, money, or a party

Protectionism to Ownership

• At first under the Black Codes, officials aimed to restrict but yet protect slaves

• The laws of Mississippi later called for slaves to be property with no rights and many specific restrictions

• The Black Code no longer existed-slaves could be sold separately and could not learn to read and write

• Slaves adopted and adapted to Christianity– It was their path to freedom in this life and next

Slave Resistance

• Slaves adopted and adapted Christianity• Slaves resisted their owners– They would slow their work pace, poison the owners and

overseers, would run away• Whites then feared slave revolts and feared free

blacks (scared they would start rebellion)– This fear led to the use of extreme measures like

beatings and executions• There were no slave rebellions in Mississippi– There was rumor of a rebellion happening in 1835 and

both blacks and whites were killed because of this rumor

Freed Men

• Free Blacks- most lived in Natchez and Vicksburg• Most prominent free black: William Johnson of

Natchez• In the early 1800s new laws required free blacks

to leave the states unless the county board of police gave them permission to stay.

• The state feared that free blacks might help organize a slave revolt

• Free blacks lived with many restrictions

Antebellum Society• Economy:

– Land was cheap, price of cotton high– Specie-gold and silver– Andrew Jackson withdrew governments money from Bank of the

United States and transferred the money to “pet banks” (state banks)• Natchez had a pet bank

– Problem: banks did not have enough specie to back up money circulation; money was not worth what the face value was

– Solution: Specie Circular of 1836-pay for land with specie and not paper money. Also redeem paper money with specie• When banks could not redeem in specie they collapsed

– Panic of 1837-depression hit Mississippi hard• Cotton prices tumbled• Banks disappeared

Transportation• Slow and difficult• Dirt roads were dusty and had rutted land and muddy paths Wagon pulled by oxen- could only travel 20 miles a day• Steamboats! Carried cotton and other goods on the Mississippi

River• Most of our cotton went to New Orleans then to textile mills in

England• Railroads-Two Stages

– 1. Bring cotton to river port– 2.Small railroads combined to join major cities in nation– Most successful early Railroad- Vicksburg and Jackson

Education• Public education developed slowly• No schools for black children• School terms were short-lasted less

than 3 months • Higher education- private and

religious organizations– Jefferson College and Oakland College-

for young men… did not survive the Civil War

– Hampstead Academy in 1826 became baptist and renamed Mississippi College in 1850

Religion

• Largest denomination were the Methodists and Baptists

• Smaller denominations: Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and Catholics

• Local churches- had both black and white members