Adam Rothman | Teaching Hard History: American Slavery, Key Concept 2

Summary

The script explores the integral role of slavery in the early United States, particularly the 19th-century cotton economy. It details the territorial expansion, the slave trade, and the establishment of plantations like the Palfrey family's in Louisiana. The story illustrates how enslaved labor transformed wilderness into profitable cotton fields, with a significant portion of the work done by children and women. The cotton's journey from plantation to global textile production underscores the interconnectedness of the Southern economy with international markets, highlighting the widespread economic benefits derived from slave labor.

Takeaways

• 🕰️ Slavery was integral to the early United States and transformed significantly with the rise of cotton in the 1790s.
• 🌱 The expansion of the United States, both diplomatically and through the displacement of Indigenous communities, was linked to the growth of the slave economy.
• 📈 The 19th-century slave economy was driven by the transfer of labor to new plantation areas and the migration of planters and capital.
• 📚 The Palfrey family serves as an example of how families capitalized on the new opportunities in the post-Louisiana Purchase lands.
• 🌳 John Palfrey and his sons established a cotton plantation in Attakapas, Louisiana, transforming wilderness into a profitable venture through enslaved labor.
• 👥 Among the enslaved labor force on the Palfrey plantation, children and women picked the majority of the cotton, accounting for about 80% of the total.
• 📊 A detailed record from the Palfrey family documents the weight of cotton picked daily by each enslaved individual, highlighting the labor distribution.
• 🌎 The cotton picked on the Palfrey plantation was part of a broader Southern, national, and international economy, marking the early stages of globalization.
• 🚢 The cotton was transported from Louisiana to New Orleans, then shipped to major cities like New York, Boston, and Liverpool.
• 🏭 The cotton was crucial to the Industrial Revolution, particularly in cotton textile manufacturing, which was a major industry of the 19th century.
• 💰 Profits from the cotton industry not only benefited Southern plantation owners but also flowed to Northern and European businesses, including brokers, insurance companies, and shipping lines.
• 🌐 The global reach of the cotton industry illustrates the interconnectedness of economies and the far-reaching impacts of slave labor during this period.

Q & A

How did the rise of cotton impact the slave economy in the United States during the 19th century?

The rise of cotton led to a transformation in the slave economy, as it fueled the territorial expansion of the United States and the transfer of labor to new plantation areas through the slave trade. This expansion and labor transfer were crucial for the establishment of profitable cotton plantations.

What role did diplomacy and the expulsion of Indigenous communities play in the expansion of the slave economy?

Diplomacy and the expulsion of Indigenous communities were key factors in the territorial expansion of the United States, which in turn provided new lands for the establishment of cotton plantations and the growth of the slave economy.

Why did John Palfrey and his sons move to New Orleans after the Louisiana Purchase?

John Palfrey and his sons moved to New Orleans to capitalize on the opportunities presented by the newly acquired lands after the Louisiana Purchase, where they saw potential for profit through the establishment of a cotton plantation.

In what region of Louisiana did the Palfrey family establish their cotton plantation?

The Palfrey family established their cotton plantation in a remote frontier region of Louisiana known as Attakapas.

How did the Palfrey family transform the land they purchased in Attakapas?

The Palfrey family turned a piece of wilderness in Attakapas into a profitable cotton plantation by utilizing the labor, muscle, and know-how of the enslaved men, women, and children they had purchased.

What does the document in the Palfrey family papers reveal about the cotton plantation's operations?

The document reveals a detailed tally of the weight of cotton picked by each enslaved person on the plantation for a year, showing the significant contribution of women and children to the cotton picking process.

What percentage of the cotton picked on the Palfrey plantation was attributed to children and women?

About 40% of the cotton was picked by children, and another 40% was picked by women, indicating that the vast majority of the cotton was picked by women and children.

How was the cotton from the Palfrey plantation integrated into the broader economy?

The cotton was transported to New Orleans, where it was loaded onto oceangoing vessels and shipped to major ports like New York, Boston, or Liverpool, becoming a key raw material for the cotton textile manufacturing industry that fueled the Industrial Revolution.

What was the significance of cotton textiles in the Industrial Revolution?

Cotton textiles were crucial to the Industrial Revolution, as they were one of the primary drivers of industrial interests and economic growth during the first half of the 19th century.

How did the profits from the cotton kingdom affect various businesses and industries?

The profits from the cotton kingdom were distributed among various businesses and industries, including cotton brokers, insurance companies that insured slaves, and shipping companies that transported cotton, leading to economic growth and development in the North and Europe.