US History
The Effects of Slavery on the South
An unintended consequence of the cotton gin was the increased demand for slave labor that
occurred in the south. Whitney’s invention transformed cotton into a crop that was easy to harvest
and clean. Plantation owners wanted slaves to plant seeds, harvest the crops and work the cotton gins.
The expansion of slavery allowed plantation owners to increase their profits dramatically, but its effect
on the people living in the south was even greater.
Slavery Divides the South
Most southerners did not live in
Plantation homes like this one
Slavery divided white Southerners into those who held slaves
and those who did not. Slaveholders with large plantations were the
wealthiest and most powerful people in the south, but they were
relatively few in number. Even though the number of slaves in the
south increased dramatically between 1790 and 1840, only about 30%
of white families living in the south owned slaves at that time. Of
those families that did own slaves, only about 10% had large
plantations with 20 or more slaves. Slave ownership was emphasizing
economic differences amongst southern white families.
The divide created by slavery was not strong enough to turn poor white
southerners against slavery. In fact most white southerners supported the
institution of slavery. They worked on small farms themselves and hoped to buy
slaves someday which would allow them to raise more cotton and earn more
money. Additionally, the poor white farmers believed that they would be at the
bottom of the social ladder if it weren’t for slaves. So while the institution of
slavery divided white southerners, hope and fear helped to unify them.
Typical home of
white southerner
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African Americans in the South
Slavery divided black Southerners into those who were enslaved and those who were free. In
1840, about 8% of the African-Americans living in the South were considered to be “free”. They had
either been born free, been freed by their owner, or bought their freedom. Most of the freed slaves
lived in southern cities like Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD. Though they were legally “free”,
these African-Americans still faced many problems. Most states did not allow free blacks to vote or
receive an education. Most employers refused to hire freedmen 9as
free blacks were often called back then). Perhaps the biggest threat
they faced was being captured and sold back into slavery (which was
not uncommon).
Enslaved African Americans formed about 1/3 of the South’s
entire population in 1840. Though on many plantations, the slaves
outnumbered the white people living there. About half of them worked on large plantations with
white overseers. The conditions faced by these men and women were horrendous. They were forced
to work unimaginably long hours and were given little food or time
for sleep. Slaves were not legally allowed to marry. Slaves often had their children taken from them
at a young age. Slave owners used fear and intimidation as tools to control the people that they had
enslaved. They hoped that doing so would prevent the slaves from attempting to escape or rebel.
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Slave Rebellions
Despite the harsh conditions they faced, many slaves tried to find ways
to hold onto their humanity. Some turned to religions, others tried to
escape. An even smaller number attempted to rebel against the slave owners.
The most famous slave revolt was led by a man named Nat Turner. On August
21, 1831, Turner led a rebellion of 70 followers which resulted in the killing of
55 white southerners. Turner is quoted as saying the following about the
rebellion:
We do not go forth for the sake of blood and carnage;…Remember that ours is not a war for
robbery…it is a struggle for freedom.
Most of Turner’s men were captured when they ran out of ammunition. When Turner was caught he
was tried and hanged,
Turner had hoped that his rebellion
would help to bring attention to the horrible
reality of slavery. He hoped that it would
inspire other rebellions that would result in the
abolition of slavery in the United States.
However, his slave revolt had the opposite
effect. Turner’s rebellion terrified white
southerners. In hope of preventing more
revolts, they randomly killed some 200
African Americans in an act of revenge.
Newspaper article on Turner’s Rebellion
Whites hoped that this would send a message
to any slaves planning on staging copy-cat revolts. Southern states enacted laws to further limit the
rights of freedmen. Free African Americans were not allowed to own weapons following the 1831
revolt. Turner’s rebellion also slowed the growing abolitionist movement in the North. As news of
the rebellion spread, northerners opposed to slavery found it difficult to defend Turner’s violent
actions.
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Date:
Core:
US History
The Effects of Slavery on the South:
Reflections & Summary
Directions: Use the reading “Effects of Slavery on the South” to answer the following questions.
Fact Check…
1. Which of the following correctly identifies one unintended consequence of the cotton gin?
a. Cotton became much easier to harvest and clean
b. Cotton became a very profitable crop
c. The demand for slaves increased
2. True or False. Most white families living in the South owned slaves.
I think that this statement is _______ (true or false) because in the text it says: ____________
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3. According to the text, how did slavery “d
divide” white southerners in the 1800s? ____________
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4. Not all blacks living in the South were slaves. What percentage of blacks living in the South
were free? ________%
5. According to the text, what were some problems that freedmen faced in the South? ________
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6. Slaves made up about ______ of the South’s total population.
7. Did slave rebellions, like that of Nat Turner, have appositive or negative effect on other slaves?
Explain. _______________________________________________________________________
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Reader Response…
Briefly summarize today’s reading. Be sure to use the questions you answer at the end of the
reading to guide you through the process.
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4
3
2
1
Advanced
Proficient
Developing
Beginning
 Shows a deep
understanding of the main
idea of the text
 All major details are
included and paraphrased
 Structure of summary
mirrors the structure of the
text
 Includes no minor details
and unnecessary opinions
 Concludes with a statement
that deeply connects to the
main idea
 Ideas are effectively
communicated with fluency
 Shows a clear
understanding of the main
idea of the text
 Most major details are
included and paraphrased
 Structure of the summary
is very similar to the
structure of the text
 Includes no/few minor
details and unnecessary
opinions
 Concludes with a
statement that clearly
connects to the main idea
 Ideas are clearly
communicated
 Shows a basic
understanding of the
main idea of the text
 Some major details are
included (may be in
author’s words)
 Structure of the summary
is somewhat similar to
the structure of the text
 Some minor details and
irrelevant opinions
included
 Concludes with a
statement that
somewhat connects to
the main idea
 A mix of clear and
awkward writing
 Shows little/no
understanding of the main
idea of the text
 Few major details are
included and/or may be
inaccurate
 Ideas in summary not
presented in the same
format as the text
 Includes many minor
details and unnecessary
opinions
 Conclusion is missing or
does not connect to main
idea
 Writing is awkward and
unclear