History Test

While some poor southern whites resented the dominance of the "slavocracy," most supported the institution and accepted the power of the planter class. Why did the "plain folk" continue to support slavery?

"Plain folk" continued to support the institution for a number of reasons. One of them is blatant racism because many poor white people were grateful that they were still above slaves on the social ladder which allowed them to feel more powerful. "Plain folk" also feared the slave owners since they had so much power and were afraid of whaat would happen in they were to rebel. Slave owners were often in very powerful positions such as in the government and lower class people were scared to challenge them.

Describe the difference between between gang labor and task labor for slaves, and explain how slaves tasks varied by region across the Old South?

Gang labor was the process of slaves working together in "gangs" with harsh conditions. This often took place in sugar fields such as in southern Louisiana around the time of harvest were constant work was necessary. Task labor was the process were slaves were assigned specific tasks that they complete at their pace. When these tasks were completed, slaves could spend the rest of their gathering food by gardening, hunting, fishing, etc... This often took place in rice plantations in places like South Carolina and Georgia were swamps were often infested with malaria and other diseases and many white people didn't want to enter those regions.

Identify the basic elements of the proslavery defense and those points aimed especially at non-southern audiences?

One important argument of the proslavery defense was the idea that black people were inferior to white people. People believed that black people were incapable of living a life that did not consist of slavery. Another argument was that all influential dynasties and empires had owned slaves at one point in time. Slaveowners used this information to argue that slavery was necessary in order to progress as a society. There was also the large economic benefit of slavery. Even people in the north benefited heavily from slavery from economic standpoint.

Given that most northern states had abolished slavery by the 1830s, how is it useful to think of slavery as a national - rather than regional - economic and political system?

Slavery was a national economic and political system because even though many northern states had abolished slavery, they were still benefiting from it. Northerners took part in the economic growth created by slavery and the money earned through slavery allowed them into invest in technological and industrial developments. Northern states were mostly responsible for transporting cotton abroad to places like Europe. A large part of New York City's commercial growth was because of transportation of slave made goods from the south. Many northern banks were also responsible for investing in plantations in the South.

How did enslaved people create community and a culture that allowed them to survive in an oppressive society?

Slaves came together to create a culture built on the ideals of hope and family. This culture had influences from both their African heritage and parts of American culture. Many songs and stories from this new slave culture had themes of freedom and determination which allowed slaves to hope for a better future. Religion played a large role in this because slaves would often use parts of the Bible were the oppressed conquered the oppressors in order to inspire them. Slaves would often meet in secret to have church ceremonies were they would sing, dance, listen to preachers etc...

Compare slaves in the Old South with those elsewhere in the world, focusing on health, diet, and opportunities for freedom?

Slaves in the Old South had usually had good health and diet but had very few opportunities for freedom in comparison to other parts of the world. Slave owners had to provide basic necessities for their slaves so that they would be able to do good work and live long. Slaves were very valuable possessions which made slave owners want to take better care of their slaves (paternalist ethos). In comparison to parts of the West Indies, slaves were much healthier and more access to food. However, slaves had very few opportunities for freedom and even when free, they still lacked many basic rights. Slaves in the Caribbean and South America were often freed by their masters in times of celebration. Free slaves had better access to education, jobs, and other things. Slavery in general was declining rapidly in other parts of the continent which made them have more access to opportunities for freedom.

In what sense did southern slaveholders consider themselves forward-looking?

Southern slaveholders considered themselves forward-looking because of a number of things. Slave owners believed that they were inherently superior to their black counterparts. They believed that black people were incapable of leading a life outside of slavery. Slave owners also argued that many great civilizations such as ancient Rome and ancient Greece relied on slave work and that these were very prosperous dynasties. Slave owners wanted to show how if these dynasties could do it then why shouldn't. Another argument made by slave owner was that slavery had a very large economic benefit which would help everyone in the long run.

How did the planter's paternalism serve to justify the system of slavery? How did it hide the reality of life for slaves?

The paternalist ethos was used by slave owners to justify slavery because it allowed them to believe that they were taking good care of their slaves. Slave owners would have to provide necessities for their slaves such as food, shelter, clothing etc... Planters would use this to hide the reality of slavery since they believed that despite also abusing and torturing their slaves, they were also protecting them and providing for them.

Identify the different types of resistance to slavery. Which ones were the most common, the most effective, and the most demonstrative?

There were several different kinds of slavery from outright rebellions to "silent sabotage." The most common was the "silent sabotage" since it was less difficult to conceal. Examples of this were breaking machinery, hurting animals, doing faulty work, leaving gates open, etc... These were the most effective since they had a big impact on the slave owners themselves. Other forms of resistance were slave revolts were slaves would come together to protest and even fight people for their freedom. These revolts were usually stopped by the local military and could result in the punishment of death.