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The Expansion of Southern Cotton Plantations and of Slavery (1793-1838) -…
The Expansion of Southern Cotton Plantations and of Slavery (1793-1838)
Cotton was Key to the South's Economic Success Through Exports and the North's Through Cotton Products
The Deep South was opened for settlement around 1790. Between 1790 and 1838, thousands of slave plantations (large farms, usually growing a single crop like cotton) were set up in the new territories. Enslaved African Americans were often marched westwards as slavery expanded.
By 1789, slavery was being phased out in 7 northernmost states. In the southern states of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North and South Carolina and Georgia, slavery was rife. This led to tensions and differences between North and South.
The impact of cotton and slavery on the economy
In the South
By 1820, cotton made up 42% of all US exports. By 1819, New Orleans was the fourth largest city in the USA.
Southern traders shipped cotton to overseas markets in Europe.
Between 1815 and 1819, around 100,000 slaves were sold in the South.
In the North
Northern factory owners bought Southern cotton and turned it into cloth. This was sold across America.
Northern business people invested in the sale of slaves like someone today might invest in a business.
Why Was Slavery Still Growing in 1820
When slavery began in 1789, many thought it would not last as it was outdated and old fashioned. This meant there were few campaigns to end slavery.
Slaveholders in the Old South (Southern states from original 13 states) decided to open new plantations in the Deep South.
Children of slaves automatically became slaves themselves.
New cotton growing lands became available in the south after 1790.
By 1838, the USA was producing over a million bales of cotton a year to meet demands from the North and overseas. Slave labour was needed to keep up with this very high demand.
Banks were willing to loan money to plantation owners as long as they were paid back with interest (extra payment) when the harvest eventually came in.
Many Presidents were from the slaveholding South and did not want to try to stop the growth of slavery.
In 1793, Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin (a piece of machinery which could separate cotton fibres); this helped process cotton around 50 times faster.
Eli Whitney Invents the 'Cotton Gin'
In 1793, Eli Whitney invented the 'cotton gin'.
The 'cotton gin' was a machine that increased the speed and quality of cotton production.
The invention speeded up the cleaning of cotton by 50 times.
This led to a huge in cotton production and demand for more cotton to be planted.
The Louisiana Purchase and the Cotton Kingdom
The USA purchased the vast Louisiana colony from France in 1803 - this led to a huge increase in plantations and slavery.
In 1812, the new state of Louisiana joined the USA (this was smaller than the original French colony).
By 1819, land to the west of the Mississippi River was added to Louisiana and two more states; Alabama and Mississippi were added.
These new states in the Deep South became known as the 'Cotton Kingdom'.
New Orleans became massive and as early as 1820, cotton made up 42% of all exports.
Expansion Caused Tensions as the North Grew Frustrated and Angry at the Growing Power of Southern Slaveholders
In the 1780s, slavery was banned in the North but allowed in the Southwest territory. This led to there being 'free states' in the North and 'slave states' in the South.
By 1838, there were 2 million slaves living in Southern states. Slaves could not vote and white Americans had all the power.
Many people in the North became worried that slaveholders in the South were becoming too powerful.
A handful of abolitionists believed that slavery was morally wrong (against the Christian religion) and spoke out against it. Christian groups such as the Quakers and the Methodists, especially in the North, spoke out. Some religious groups in the South spoke in favour of slavery.
People were worried that if a new slave state, or new free state was added to the USA that it would upset the balance of power.
This led to the creation of the Missouri Compromise (1820) to solve the issue.
What was the Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise of 1820 tried to stop conflict between slave and non-slave states.
It drew a virtual line across the middle of the country. Any states created in the West which fell below the line could be slave states - those above were free states.
It said all territories in the West would be free until they joined as states.
It set down a pattern of adding states to the USA in pairs - one slave and one free to keep the balance of power in government.
Growing Fears about Slavery
Southern whites began to worry about risks that came with slavery - in 1803 there had been successful slave revolt on the Caribbean island of St Dominique.
In January 1811, a New Orleans enslaved person named Charles Deslondes organised a revolt in the South. The revolt was brutally crushed.
Opponents to slavery in the North said slavery was outdated and relied on violence but many in the North were worried about rebellion and what would happen if enslaved people were freed.
Growing Power from Slavery
As the south grew it became more influential in US politics - between 1829 and 1837, Andrew Jackson was the President and he openly supported slavery.
Growing Opposition to Slavery
Abolitionists worked to abolish slavery altogether.
Some disliked the fact that a black American in the North could be sent to the South if a judge agreed they were a runaway slave.
Some abolitionists wanted to free the enslaved people and send all black Americans to Africa.
Some abolitionists wished to stir up rebellion in the South.
Growing Dependence on Slavery
Owners of large cotton, tobacco or rice plantations relied on slave labour.
However, only a small group of people benefitted from the profits.
The North also did well out of slavery - the goods made Northern factories and businesses profitable.