The Plantation PDF

"A history of slavery is a history of tension between what slavery claimed to be and what it was in fact" South in 1815: growth, prosperity, and power. It emerged as the world's most extensive and commercial agricultural economy -- **cotton** Slavery affected not only economics but also **values**...

"A history of slavery is a history of tension between what slavery claimed to be and what it was in fact" South in 1815: growth, prosperity, and power. It emerged as the world's most extensive and commercial agricultural economy -- **cotton** Slavery affected not only economics but also **values**, **customs**, **laws**, **class structure** By 1860, white Southerners asserted moral and economic benefits of slavery Master-slave relationship Labor and **profit** was essential Slaves had the means and human agency to resist Master-slave relationship was very asymmetrical Slaves Legally -- **chattel property** -- enslaved people -- mere **extension of the master's will** J.H.Hammond: *The cardinal principle of slavery -- that the slave is to be regarded as a thing -- as an article of property -- a chattel personal -- obtains as undoubted law in all of these southern states.* *The slave lives for his master service. His time, his labour, his comforts are all at his masters disposal. Slave is the most valuable property.* Masters exercised **exclusive power** of slaves Only 10% of wills did show some human concessions and made a human connection (arrangement to protect their family after their master's death) Ch. F. Hammond to his son in a letter: *\...to take care of Louisa and his children who are both of your blood, if not mine. I cannot free these people and send them North. It would be cruelty to them. Nor would I like anyone but my own blood to own as slaves, my children, or Louisa. Do not let Louisa or any of my children be slaves of strangers. Slavery in the family will be their happiest earthly condition*. Slaves struggled - **recognition of their humanity**, natural rights to **family** and on their **owner's recognition of these families** and communities Northern institutions and universities looking for scientific proofs of inherent inequality of races (Polygenesis -- the idea that races were distinct and unequal in origin) In the South the defense of pro-slavery argument was largely biblical -- fixed orders (**hierarchy**) were the basis of a proper Christian republic J.D.Hammond: *What God ordains and Christ sanctifies should surely command a respect and toleration of Man.* Pro-slavery argument The necessity of *Democratic - Republican* government (only on the foundations of slavery could a true republican society flourish) Rejection of liberalism and principles of human equality W. Harpor 1837:\ "\...*is it not palpably near the truth to say that no man was ever born free and no two men were born equal?"* **Pro-slavery analogy:** *Slavery is like marriage. A benevolent institution to protect the weak* **Anti-slavery analogy:** *Slavery is like marriage. A form of illegitimate authority formed to oppress.* Slave resistance The ability to convey the experience of slavery was highly constrained Anti-slavery narratives (Solomon Northup, David Walker, Frederick Douglas, etc.) **Nat Turner Rebellion** -- in 1831 in Virginia (70 whites were killed) -- fear on both sides -- whites constantly lived in the fear from these rebellions **Slave family** Family -- a body to protect individuals. Slave Family was not acknowledged by the society Slave marriage had no legal standing in the South -- chattel property had no rights **Marriage** - A husband also owns his wife (possession of her body, her property and her children) - Slave marriage - everything belonged to the master, not the man a slave woman married. Slavery and women *"slavery is terrible for men but it is far more terrible for women"* H. Jacobs Intimate relationships were recognized in slave communities Unwed mothers were not ashamed (they could not control the circumstances of their sexual life) **Kinship** The inter-state slave trade often broke families (children rarely lived with parents) (more generation families in S. Carolina or Virginia) Kinship (**fictive kin**) -- extended biological ties -- practice that tied people to children and expand the group and people invested in the child's wellbeing Cycles of social death and re-birth -- the narrative of Ch. Ball The end of slavery The Civil War - 1865 - the end of slavery as an institution 4mil AA born enslaved in the USA insisted that the Union reformulates policies African American southerners had a long journey to gain their dignity It was also the fall of the planter's class. The plantation ended.