The SOCIETY OF THE SOUTH in the Early Republic [APUSH Review Unit 4 Topic 13] Period 4: 1800-1848

Summary

In this video on Southern culture during the Early Republic, the presenter discusses the complexities of slavery in the South between 1800 and 1848. While the image of vast cotton plantations dominated, most white farmers were yeoman farmers who didn't own enslaved laborers yet believed in the institution. The video highlights the political and economic influence of elite planters and how they unified white Southerners around white supremacy, despite differing interests. John C. Calhoun’s defense of slavery as a positive good exemplifies the ideological shifts of the time, contrasting sharply with the moral reservations of earlier founders like Washington and Jefferson.

Takeaways

• 🌾 The South in the early 19th century was primarily characterized by yeoman farmers who did not own enslaved laborers, despite the prominence of cotton plantations.
• 📈 Yeoman farmers sought to increase their political influence in the 1830s and 1840s, recognizing that their economic interests often differed from those of the elite planters.
• ⚖️ The Three-Fifths Compromise allowed slaveholding states to have disproportionate representation in Congress, strengthening the political power of the planter elite.
• 🌍 Global abolitionist movements, notably Britain's emancipation in 1834, created unease among Southern planters, prompting them to rally support for slavery.
• 🤝 Elite planters worked to unify the white population around the ideology of white supremacy, appealing to shared racial identity over class differences.
• 🗣️ Figures like John C. Calhoun justified slavery on economic grounds, claiming it was essential for a stable and wealthy society.
• 💪 The dependence of poorer whites on the planter elite reinforced the status quo, despite their lack of direct participation in slavery.
• 🚜 Most white farmers, although not slave owners, were incentivized to support the institution of slavery due to economic dependencies created by elite planters.
• 📜 The moral justifications for slavery evolved during this period, contrasting with earlier views held by some of America's founding fathers who had mixed feelings about the institution.
• 🕊️ The ideological framework established by pro-slavery advocates solidified the cultural landscape of the South, influencing societal norms and attitudes toward race and labor.

Q & A

What was the primary economic system in the Southern U.S. during the Early Republic?

The primary economic system in the Southern U.S. during the Early Republic was based on cotton plantations, which heavily relied on enslaved labor.

Who were yeoman farmers, and how did they differ from plantation owners?

Yeoman farmers were independent white farmers who worked their own plots of land and did not own enslaved laborers, unlike plantation owners who relied on large numbers of enslaved individuals for their economic success.

What influence did yeoman farmers have on the political landscape in the 1830s and 1840s?

Yeoman farmers gained more voting rights and sought to influence state legislatures to address their political concerns, but their impact was limited due to the dominance of cotton and the economic power of elite planters.

What was the significance of the Three-Fifths Compromise in the context of Southern politics?

The Three-Fifths Compromise allowed Southern states with large enslaved populations to have greater representation in Congress, giving elite slaveholders disproportionate political influence relative to their numbers.

How did the global abolitionist movement affect Southern plantation owners?

The global abolitionist movement, particularly Britain's emancipation of slaves in 1834, made Southern plantation owners anxious and led them to work to unify white Southerners around the ideology of white supremacy.

What role did elite planters play in the economy and society of the South?

Elite planters maintained control over the Southern economy by providing loans, employing poor whites, and facilitating the transportation of crops for yeoman farmers, creating a dependency on their resources.

What arguments did John C. Calhoun make to justify slavery?

John C. Calhoun argued that the relationship between enslaved people and their owners was a 'positive good' for society and essential for stable political institutions, framing slavery as both an economic necessity and a moral foundation.

How did the views of the Founding Fathers on slavery differ from those of Southern leaders in the Early Republic?

The Founding Fathers, such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, had moral reservations about slavery and viewed it as an evil, while Southern leaders in the Early Republic increasingly celebrated and justified slavery as beneficial.

What strategies did Southern planters use to consolidate their power among the white population?

Southern planters worked to unify white society around the idea of white supremacy, regardless of class differences, creating a shared identity that supported the institution of slavery.

What were the broader implications of Southern culture during the Early Republic for U.S. history?

Southern culture during the Early Republic solidified racial ideologies, economic dependencies, and political inequalities that would have lasting effects on American society and contribute to tensions leading up to the Civil War.