Questions and Answers
What is the class system?
A social ranking of people in any given society
What are some negatives of class systems? (Select all that apply)
What are some positives of class systems? (Select all that apply)
What does 'antebellum' refer to?
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Describe the population pyramid of the South before the Civil War.
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What is a cotton gin?
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What are aristocrats?
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What are characteristics of the planter class?
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What does oligarchy mean and how does it apply to the South?
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Who controlled the political and social leadership of the South?
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What percentage of the population did the planter class make up?
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Describe the plantation system.
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What material items were typically associated with the planter class?
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What were some attitudes and values of the planter class?
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What roles did slaves typically assume on plantations?
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What were the roles within a plantation family?
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The Southern Planter was strongly attracted to medieval cultural ideals.
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The growing of cotton on large plantations was economically efficient and agriculturally sound.
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Most Southern planters owned ten or more slaves.
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In 1860, three-fourths of all white Southerners owned no slaves.
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Slave owners generally treated their slaves as valuable economic investments.
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Southern plantation owners justified the institution of slavery by believing that what was good for cotton was good for the United States economy.
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Southerners justified slavery using scripture quotes including 'servants obey thy masters, for it is right in the eyes of God.'
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Study Notes
Class System
- Social ranking determined by wealth, education, religion, race, family name, achievements, and gender.
- Class systems can lead to prejudice, discrimination, stereotypes, and violence, while limiting social mobility and educational opportunities.
Antebellum South
- Refers to the period in the South before the Civil War.
- Class hierarchy: Slaves at the base, followed by free African Americans, mountain whites, less wealthy slave owners, and culminating in planter aristocrats.
Planter Class
- Composed of wealthy individuals who typically owned 20 or more slaves, often more than 100.
- Characteristics include fashion (long-tailed coats, stove-pipe hats), significant landholdings, and preferential educational opportunities for children.
- Reputation and outward appearance were pivotal; women managed daily household operations while men managed plantation business.
Agricultural Economy
- Enormous plantations operated as self-sustaining small villages, producing various crops like lettuce, wheat, corn, in addition to cotton.
- Plantations featured large homes with beautifully landscaped surroundings.
Political Power
- The planter class constituted only 2% of the population but held considerable political and social control in Southern society.
- Oligarchy defined as governance by a few, with plantation owners representing that elite group.
Slavery on Plantations
- Slaves performed diverse roles as field hands and household servants, would oversee simpler tasks for children.
- Slave owners regarded slaves as valuable investments, often treating them with a focus on economic gain.
Family Structure
- The master was responsible for overall plantation welfare and community leadership, while the wife managed daily operations.
- Children were expected to marry within their class and region, reinforcing social structures.
Cultural Influences and Attitudes
- Planters were drawn to medieval cultural ideals, reflecting their values on land ownership, reputation, and religion.
- Not all whites in the South owned slaves; in 1860, three-fourths of white Southerners did not own any.
Justification for Slavery
- Southern plantation owners rationalized slavery as beneficial to the U.S. economy, believing cotton was crucial for economic prosperity.
- Utilized religious justifications to support slavery, citing scripture to endorse servitude.
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Description
Explore the complexities of the Southern class system and the planter class through insightful flashcards. This quiz highlights the definitions, negatives, and positives associated with social class structures, providing a concise understanding of social rankings and their implications.
