Antebellum South Essay

Antebellum South was a critical point in the history of the United States of America. It included many economic improvements, governmental issues and positions, and an almost completely different way of life from the other half of the country. The term “antebellum” means of or during the period before a war. In this case, Antebellum South, meaning before the American Civil War. Some historians say this period started after the War of 1812, leading up to the Civil War, and others expand it to the years from the ratification of the Constitution to the war. The history of the Southern United States dates back to hundreds of years ago. In 1781, at the Siege of Yorktown, the American Revolution was ended. The Constitutional Convention, in 1787,

It mainly consisted of upper class wealthy people. The people who were in the lower class were essentially unseen and their opinions did not matter in the lives of the Southern people. Rich, white men owned slaves and had many acres of farmland to grow either tobacco or cotton. In 1794, Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin. It was a machine that boosted the process of removing seeds from cotton fiber. Because of the high demand and profit from cotton, owners would buy more acres of land to grow more cotton on, meaning there was a greater demand for slaves. Slave life in the South was a harsh concept. A typical plantation had, on average, 20 slaves. The total number of slaves in the Antebellum South was 3,953,696. The states with less than 30% slaves were: Delaware, Maryland, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, and Kentucky. States that contained more than 30% slaves were: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Work on the plantation was never-ending. Male slaves tended the fields, pastures, and gardens. Females and children served as cooks, servants, and housemaids. They were often starved, whipped, or even

One of the most ruthless rebellions occured in 1829 when Nat Turner organized a rebellion in Virginia. Close to 60 white people were killed, and the state later executed 5 slaves who were accused of being a part of the rebellion. In 1847, a speculative case was brought before the United States Supreme Court. A black slave named Dred Scott was travelling with his owner, Dr. John Emerson, who took Scott to the free state of Illinois. Scott was unaware of his rights during his extended stay in the free state, and did not make a lega claim for freedom until he was back in Southern territory. Dred Scott went to trial, but lost because he was black, he was not a citizen, and had no right to sue. The Dred Scott Decision is named one of the most infamous cases in