ch 19 North and South Take different paths

North vs. South: 

North vs. South The North and South begin to take different paths

Abraham Lincoln: 

Abraham Lincoln In the 1850’s, Lincoln said: “A House divided against itself cannot stand.” To what “house” was Lincoln referring? Ch. 19 explores the widening division between the North and South.

North and South: 

North and South During the early 1800’s, the North and South became two different worlds. The North had busy cities, factories, railroads, roads, and canals. The South was dominated by large plantations and slavery.

The South Becomes a Slave Society: 

The South Becomes a Slave Society The Southern U.S. had perfect land for growing cotton, a crop that is used to make cloth for clothes. But this was tough work, the cotton had to be removed from the tough, sticky seeds.

The South Becomes a Slave Society: 

The South Becomes a Slave Society A person would remove the seeds by hand at a few pounds per day. Cotton growers wanted to speed up this process.

The South Becomes a Slave Society: 

The South Becomes a Slave Society In 1793, Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, a machine that removed cotton seeds much faster. One worker could now “deseed” 1000 pounds of cotton per day! Cotton production skyrocketed in the U.S…within 8 years it increased 250 times!!!

The Cotton Gin: 

The Cotton Gin

The South Becomes a Slave Society: 

The South Becomes a Slave Society With such large crops of cotton, farmers used enslaved African Americans to do the work. However, there weren’t enough, so more slaves were sent from the Caribbean and from tobacco farms on the Atlantic coast. Look at the map on page 164 in your book.

The South Becomes a Slave Society: 

The South Becomes a Slave Society What was life like as a slave on a cotton plantation? First, planters did not care if they broke up families, so many people were sold away from their families and homes. They would even buy parents away from their children.

Life on a Cotton Plantation: 

Life on a Cotton Plantation Solomon Northup was a free African American who was kidnapped and sold into slavery: “The workers are required to be in the cotton fields as soon as it is light in the morning. They are only given 10 or 15 minutes at noon to swallow some cold bacon. They are then not allowed to rest until it is too dark to see. When the moon is full, they often work until the middle of the night.”

Slavery: 

Slavery Try to envision slavery through the eyes of this six year old: “My brothers and sisters were bid off first, …while my mother, paralyzed with grief, held me by the hand…Her turn came and…then I was offered.” Now, finish this sentence: “To be a slave meant __________________________________.”

Learning to Survive: 

Learning to Survive Enslaved African Americans developed their own culture that helped them survive the brutality of slavery. To block out the cruelty of slavery, they turned to activities that reminded them of their free lives: music, dancing, storytelling, and families.

Learning to Survive: 

Learning to Survive To deal with the horror of family members being sold, everyone took part in caring for children. All the slaves acted as mothers or fathers to the young.

Learning to Survive: 

Learning to Survive African Americans also relied on their religious beliefs. They had secret meeting to practice their faith and develop religious songs, or spirituals. These spirituals expressed their hatred of slavery and proclaimed all people are equal.

Fighting Slavery: 

Fighting Slavery From colonial times, African Americans, both free and slaves, rose up against slavery. Wherever there was slavery, there were slave uprisings. The rebels of most uprisings were executed while officials would pass tougher laws.

Fighting Slavery: 

Fighting Slavery In 1822, a slave named Denmark Vesey won $600 in a lottery and bought his freedom. He planned to take over Charleston, SC and free the slaves. However, at the last moment, his plans were revealed. Vesey and 130 others were arrested – 45 were executed.

Slide17: 

Memorial to Denmark Vesey – Charleston, S.C. Denmark Vesey’s Home

Fighting Slavery: 

Fighting Slavery Other uprisings like Vesey’s failed. Still, they continued until the Civil War. These uprisings showed just how much African Americans hated slavery. Whether free or enslaved, African Americans suffered. The will to be free burned brightly within all African Americans.