MISSISSIPPI STUDIES
CHAPTER 4
POLITICS, SLAVERY, &
ANTEBELLUM SOCIETY
POLITICS
Politics plays an important role in history.
 It makes people take sides, causes divisions
within society, and also raises the issues that
concerns people.
 One of the first issues to reveal the social
divisions in antebellum Mississippi was the
location of the capital.
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Antebellum – before the war
THE STATE CAPITAL
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1798 – Natchez was the capital because it was already a
substantial frontier settlement on the MS River.
1802 – Washington became the capital when political rivalry
led to relocating the capital away from Natchez.
1821 – LeFleur’s Bluff became the capital when it was
decided that Washington was too small and the capital
should be in the middle of the state.
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LeFleur’s Bluff – site along the Pearl River where Louis LeFleur traded with the
Choctaw; later became Jackson
Jackson – named in honor of Andrew Jackson, hero of the Battle of New
Orleans
Jackson remained a small town until the 1840s, when
streets, houses, buildings, a Captiol, and a Governor’s
Mansion were built.
THE CONSTITUTION OF 1832
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Many political changes came about in the early nineteenth
century, including the issue of property ownership being a
requirement to vote.
This period of history is known as “The Era of the Common
Man.” It was sparked by the election of Andrew Jackson as
President in 1828.
The Mississippi Constitution of 1832 reflected the idea of
Jacksonian democracy.
Changes to the constitution included:
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Judges were elected instead of being appointed
Representation in both houses of legislature was determined only
by population
Banning the importation of slaves if they were to be sold (never
applied)
LOCAL GOVERMENT
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Although the state government was important, the
county government met most of the needs of the
citizens.
After 1832, an elected Board of Police governed each
county.
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Board of Police – group elected to govern each county
The Board of Police had such duties as:
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Levying taxes, ordering the construction of courthouses and
jails, appointing supervisors to build and maintain roads and
bridges
ACQUISITION OF NATIVE AMERICAN LAND
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Rapid growth throughout the state was aided by the removal of
Native Americans.
Through the they of assimilation, Native Americans began to see
their property being taken away more and more throughout the
state.
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Assimilation – theory that Native Americans relied on farming rather than
hunting and they would require less land and could coexist with the
settlers
By the War of 1812, the government had given up on the policy of
assimilation because they feared the Indians would side with the
British or Spanish.
The Creek and Shawnee Indians led by Tecumseh tried to unite
the various tribes tin the area to resist white settlers; when
Tecumseh was killed the resistance efforts ended.
The Choctaw chief Pushmataha convinced his people not to join
the efforts and kept peaceful relations with the settlers.
FEDERAL TREATIES WITH NATIVE AMERICANS
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By 1783, only the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indian tribes
remained in MS. In 1798, the MS Territory was
established and treaties were negotiated with the Indian
tribes to extend the range of the territory.
Between 1801 and 1832, the federal government and
the Indian tribes negotiated treaties that would cede
nearly all of the Indian owned land of present day
Mississippi to the United States.
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Cede – to give away
1801 – TREATY OF FORT ADAMS
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The US received almost 3 million acres of Choctaw land.
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The US also gained the right to build the Natchez Trace
through Choctaw Territory.
In return, the Choctaw would receive several thousand
dollars worth of merchandise.
Also, the Choctaw received a broken promise that nonNative Americans would be removed from Indian lands.
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1805 – TREATY OF MOUNT DEXTER
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The US received over four million acres of land in south
Mississippi.
In return, Native American debts to traders and settlers
were cancelled.
Also, the Native American leaders like Pushmataha were
given annual pensions.
1820 – TREATY OF DOAK’S STAND
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The US received five million acres of land, including
present-day Jackson.
In return, the Indians were promised lands west of the
MS River, which they did not want to settle.
1830 – TREATY OF DANCING RABBIT CREEK
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The US received the remaining 10 million acres of
Choctaw land.
Also, the Choctaws promised to move to present day
Oklahoma.
The Choctaws were allowed to stay if they registered
with the federal government.
1832 – TREATY OF PONTOTOC CREEK
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The US received the land in north Mississippi from the
Chickasaw Indians.
The Chickasaw Indians agreed to move to Oklahoma.
TRAIL OF TEARS
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After ceding all of their land to the US government, the
Native Americans began their trek to the Indian
Territory, or present day Oklahoma.
Along their journey, a great number of Indians died; this
time of great suffering for the Choctaw, Chickasaw,
Creek, Cherokee, and Seminole Indians became known
as the Trail of Tears.
SLAVERY IN MISSISSIPPI
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After forcing the Native Americans off of the lands of
Mississippi, slaves were brought to America to work the
land.
By the 1720s, there were enough slaves in Louisiana
(included MS) to require legislation, which came in the
form of the Black Codes. These laws were issued by
Governor Bienville in 1724.
BLACK CODES
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The Black Codes, which only applied to blacks, were laws to
govern all aspects of slavery and society, while granting
slaves only a few rights. These codes covered:
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Under the Black Codes, slaves did have some protections:
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Marriage of slaves, ownership of property, travel, gathering in
groups, and resistance to white owners
Husbands and wives could not be separated; children under 14
could not be separated from their parents; owners could not
mistreat their slaves; owners could not free the slaves to leave them
helpless to die
Under the Black Codes, freed slaves had all the privileges of
free citizens.
SLAVE LABOR & COTTON PRODUCTION
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The main occupations of slaves included agriculture and the
production of lumber. Main crops grown by the slaves
included: indigo, tobacco, and cotton.
In 1793, Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, which
revolutionized the process of harvesting cotton.
The first cotton gin in Mississippi was designed and built by a
slave from the Natchez District named Barclay.
With the cotton gin, long growing seasons, very fertile soil,
and many navigable rivers, cotton production in MS reached
an all-time high. People began to refer to it as “King Cotton.”
Large plantations were built to produce cotton a commercial
scale, while some families grew and produced cotton on
smaller scales.
COTTON GIN
PLANTATION LIFE IN ANTEBELLUM MISSISSIPPI
WORKING & LIVING CONDITIONS OF SLAVES
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Slave worked all types of jobs, but mainly jobs dealing with the
production of cotton; other jobs included: cooking, cleaning,
tending the livestock, making clothes, and caring for children.
Skilled slaves often worked as carpenters, blacksmiths, and brick
masons.
The slave owner usually supervised the slaves; however, if the
owner did not live on the farm or plantation, an overseer was
hired. A driver often supervised the world of small groups of
slaves.
Owners enforced discipline and work rules; some offered
incentives like extra clothing, money, time off, or tools for hard
work.
THE SLAVE COMMUNITY & RESISTANCE
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After Mississippi became part of the United States,
the Black Codes no longer existed and slaves were
considered property and had no rights and many
restrictions.
Due to this, the slaves were unable to develop stable
communities; however, they adopted Christianity
and saw it as a pathway to freedom in this life and
the next.
Many slaves participated in revolts and resistance
attempts which included: running away, poisoning
their owners, breaking machinery, burning
equipment and goods, and slowing down the work
pace.
FREE BLACKS
Some blacks were free in Mississippi, but they
lived under many restrictions. Most of these
slaves lived in towns like Natchez and Vicksburg
and worked many types of jobs.
 One of the most prominent slaves in MS was
William Johnson. He was a barber in Natchez
who owned town lots, a farm, and slaves. He was
murdered, but his alleged killer was never
brought to justice because blacks could not
testify in court.
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ANTEBELLUM SOCIETY
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With the removal of the Indians, MS experienced a
land boom and population explosion.
The price of land was cheap and the price of cotton
was high. Due to this, banks extended easy credit
and issued paper money far in excess of the specie
in their vaults; however, this would lead to problems
for MS.
At the same time, Andrew Jackson, who was heavily
supported throughout MS, was elected President.
His use of pet banks would cause huge economic
problems in the state. One such bank was the
Planters Bank of Natchez.
ECONOMIC PROBLEMS
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The problems caused by the Jacksonian economics
were soon corrected by the federal government.
In 1836, Specie Circular was issued. This required
that government land be paid for with specie rather
than useless paper money.
At the same time, the Distribution Act was issued.
This required the money in the federal treasury be
paid to the states in specie.
When the banks could not provide the gold and
silver, they collapsed. In 1837, the Planter’s Bank
failed.
PANIC OF 1837
When the Planter’s Bank failed in 1837, an
economic depression occurred. This depression
would last until 1841.
 Mississippi was hit hard by the depression. The
federal government foreclosed on land bought
on credit. Also, bonds issued by the state were
declared invalid. These bonds remain unpaid to
this day.
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TRANSPORTATION - WATERWAYS
Steamboats were a major form of transportation
as they carried cotton and other goods on the
Mississippi, Yazoo, Big Black, Pearl, and
Tombigbee Rivers.
 Most of the cotton was shipped to New Orleans
and Mobile, where it was sent to the textile mills
of New England or Great Britain.
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TRANSPORTATION - RAILROADS
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Railroads began to spring up in Mississippi.
In stage one, the railroads were built to transport
the cotton from the farms to the river ports.
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The Vicksburg and Jackson Railroad was the most
successful in the state. Later, the line was extended to
reach Meridian.
In stage two, small railroads were combined into
trunk lines, joining other cities in the nation.
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The New Orleans, Jackson, and Great Northern Railroads
connected New Orleans and Jackson.
The Mississippi Central Railroad linked Jackson and
Memphis.
The Memphis and Charleston Railroad linked Tennessee
to the Atlantic Coast
EDUCATION
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Public education developed slowly because most
counties could not afford to spend much money.
In places where schools were located, only the
basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic were
taught. There were not schools for blacks.
Higher education was usually the responsibility of
religious or private organizations.
Jefferson College in Washington became the first
institute of higher education in MS.
In 1840, the University of MS was established, but
did not begin operations until 1848.
RELIGION
In Mississippi, most people, including blacks and
whites were considered religious people.
 Many Christian denominations established
churches in MS, including: Presbyterians,
Episcopalians, and Catholics.
 The largest groups were the Methodists and the
Baptists.
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SECTION 1 QUESTIONS – PG 80
1. Why was the state capital moved to Jackson?
2. What provisions of the Constitution of 1832 showed
the impact of Jacksonian democracy?
3. What powers did the county board of police have?
SECTION 2 QUESTIONS – PG 85
1. Was the federal government of the state government
responsible for relations with the Native Americans?
2. Name the five treaties by which the Choctaw and
Chickasaw ceded their Mississippi land to the federal
government.
3. Why was the removal of Native Americans westward
called the Trail of Tears?
SECTION 3 QUESTIONS – PG 92
1. What were some of the important provisions of the
Black Code issued by the French in 1724?
2. What types of jobs did slaves do on farms and
plantations?
3. Who was the most prominent free black in antebellum
Mississippi?
SECTION 4 QUESTIONS – PG 98
1. In which decade did the population of MS increase the
most rapidly?
2. What was the importance of Specie Circular?
3. How did railroads both help and hurt the economy of
Vicksburg?
4. What were the two largest religious denominations in
MS in the antebellum period?