Unit 7 Antebellum Southern Culture- Antebellum= time period before Civil War

(1789-1860)

Economy- money, businesses

• “Cotton is King”- Cotton is the most important and profitable crop. • Cotton gin was invented by Eli Whitney in 1793. It separated the cotton from the seed. Farmers were able to sell cotton faster and, therefore, make more money.• Cotton profits increase, so more people plant cotton. This makes farmers want more slaves, which increases the price of slaves.

Transportation• Steamboats were invented in 1816. • The first railroad in Georgia was in 1837 from the Western and Atlantic Railroad Company. • Terminus was the first name of Atlanta. Terminus/Atlanta was called “the gate city” because all railroads in the Southeast came through Terminus except 2.

Education

• Private schools in Georgia began in 1783 for wealthy families. • Most people in this time period thought the family should educate their children. • In 1817, GA created the poor school system to educate poor boys for 3 years. • Children were only in school a couple of months a year so they could help on the family farm. • UGA was created in 1785 and is the nation’s oldest public university.

Society- culture, religion

• 1816- GA passed law that jails were required to provide clothing, blankets, heat, and medical treatment for prisoners. • GA improved treatment for prisoners, mentally ill, and blind/deaf. • “Great Revival”- church meetings which converted thousands of people to Christianity

Comprehension Questions

• Who were 3 groups of people who lived and worked on plantations during the antebellum period?

• What were 2 ways that Africans could earn their freedom during the antebellum period?

• Explain 1 rule or law that slaves had to follow during the antebellum period.

Georgia’s Social Classes• Planters- the wealthy white high class who owned 20

or more slaves and lived on a plantation (big farms). About 25% of whites in the South owned slaves. Owning slaves was a sign of wealth and power.

• Planters hired an overseer (manager) who was in charge of running the plantation.

• Yeoman- the white middle class. A white farmer who owned some land, grew crops on it, and hunted for meat. Some owned a few slaves and some did not own any.

• Poor whites- did not own land. Worked for planters or yeoman.

African Americans • About 3,500 free African Americans lived in

Georgia in 1850. Owners freed them or they bought their own freedom.

• Some free African Americans were kidnapped and returned to slavery.

• Slaves had different jobs on plantations. Field hands worked on the field with crops. House slaves worked in the house cooking, cleaning, sewing, caring for children.

African Americans

• Most slaves received some food and clothing. • Many slaves also had their own gardens to

grow food. Sometimes, they could sell their crops and keep the money.

• Teaching slaves to read and write was illegal. Some were taught anyway.

• It was illegal for slaves to marry. • Children of slaves became slaves, as well.

Growing Differences Between North and South

• One issue that divided the USA was tariffs. Tariffs are taxes on items that come from other countries.

• During this time, Northern states made money making products (industry). Southern states made money growing crops (agriculture).

• Tariff of Abominations- In 1828, Congress created a tariff (tax) on British goods. This helped the North because they could now sell products for less $ than Britain. The tariff hurt the South because it raised the cost of goods they bought from Britain.

Growing Differences Between North and South

• nullify- to reject a federal law• South Carolina was upset over the Tariff of

Abominations. They were afraid their economy would drop. They threatened to nullify (reject) the tariff and secede (leave the Union).

• The U.S. Constitution gives some powers to the states called states’ rights. South Carolina believed that nullification was one of these states’ rights.

• President Jackson was against nullification. He wanted the country to stay together.

• Georgia did not like the tariff but did not support nullification or seceding.

• President Jackson threatened to use force to make sure that SC obeyed all federal laws and stayed in the Union.

• South Carolina withdrew its threat to nullify and secede.

Causes of the Civil WarEconomic Differences North= Industrial

South= Agriculture/Farming

States’ Rights North= Believed the federal government/Constitution are supreme throughout the nation.South= Believed in States’ Rights and believed that the federal government did not have the right to tell them what to do.

Sectionalism North= Wanted tariffs on imported goodsSouth= Did not want tariffs on imported goods, due to trade relationship with Great Britain

Slavery North= Banned slaverySouth= Relied on slavery for the production of cash crops

Election of 1860 & Secession

North= Voted in Abraham Lincoln as the 16th U.S. PresidentSouth= 11 states seceded from the Union as a result of Lincoln’s win

Resources of the North and SouthNorth (Union) South

(Confederate States of America)

•Had an advantage in the areas of economics and human resources:A. 85% of the nation’s factories and

railroad lines B. Produced almost all of the firearms,

cloth, iron, ships & boats, and shoes in the USA

C. BanksD. 22+ million peopleE. Union army had 16,000+ trained

soldiers

• Were at a disadvantage because:A. 15% of factories and railroads were

in the SouthB. 9 million people + 3.5 million slavesC. The southern states did not have an

armyD. Relied on Northern banks for

money and invested most their money in slavery

• Had an advantage in:A. Production of food (corn, rice,

wheat, & livestock) and cottonB. Strong/smart military leaders, who

resigned from the U.S. Army to lead the south.