Southern Society

Southern Society

​Popular fiction often made it seem that all white southerners had many slaves and lived on large plantations. Fiction writers wrote about wealthy southern families who had frequent, grand parties. The ideal image of the Antebellum (before the war) South included hospitality and well-treated slaves on beautiful plantations that almost ran themselves. This romantic view was far from the reality. During the first half of the 1800s, only about one-third of white southern families had slaves. Fewer families had plantations. Despite their small numbers, these planters had a powerful influence over the South. Many served as political leaders. They led a society made up of many different kinds of people, including yeoman farmers, poor whites, enslaved African Americans, and free African Americans. Each of these segments of society contributed to the economic success of the South.

Multiple Choice

In the early 1800's, what fraction of White, Southern families had slaves?

• 1/2

• 1/3

• 1/4

• 3/4

Multiple Choice

What group had to most wealth in the south?

• Slaves

• Free African Americans

• Yeomen

• Planters

​Male planters were primarily concerned with raising crops and supervising slave laborers. They left the running of the plantation household to their wives. The planter’s wife oversaw the raising of the children and supervised the work of all slaves within the household. Slave women typically cooked, cleaned, and helped care for the planter’s children. Wives also took on the important social duties of the family. For example, many southern leaders discussed political issues at the dances and dinners hosted by their wives.

Multiple Choice

On a large plantation, who kept slaves working hard?

• overseers

• yeomen

• planters

• indentured servants

​Yeomen Farmers (Poor whites)

​Most white southerners were yeomen, owners of small farms. Yeomen owned few slaves or none at all. The typical farm averaged 100 acres. Yeomen took great pride in their work. In 1849 a young Georgia man wrote, “I desire above all things to be a ‘Farmer.’ It is the most honest, upright, and sure way of securing all the comforts of life.”

Yeoman families, including women and children, typically worked long days at a variety of tasks. Some yeomen held a few slaves but worked alongside them.

Multiple Choice

This group of Southern Society had an average of 100 acres

• Poor Whites

• Free African Americans

• Planters

• Yeomen

Multiple Choice

What is something that Planters' wives did not do in Southern Society.

• Host Parties

• Oversaw the raising of the children

• Worked Outside the Home

• Managed Slaves

​Religion & Society

​Most white southerners shared similar religious beliefs. Because of the long distances between farms, families often saw their neighbors only at church events, such as revivals or socials. Rural women often played volunteer roles in their churches. Wealthy white southerners thought that their religion justified their position in society and the institution of slavery. They argued that God created some people, like themselves, to rule others. This belief conflicted with the belief of many northern Christians that God was against slavery.

​Free African Americans & Discrimination

​Although the vast majority of African Americans in the South were enslaved, more than 250,000 free African Americans lived in the region by 1860. Some were descendants of slaves who were freed after the American Revolution.

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Free African Americans lived in both rural and urban areas. Most lived in the countryside and worked as paid laborers on plantations or farms. Free African Americans in cities often worked a variety of jobs, mostly as skilled artisans.​

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Multiple Choice

This group of Southern Society lived in both Urban and Rural Areas

• Yeomen

• Planters

• Free African Americans

• Poor Whites

Multiple Choice

What is the term for independent southern farmers who usually worked alone or with their families, although some had one or two enslaved Africans to help.

• planters

• yeoman

• indentured servants

• slaves

Multiple Choice

Which group controlled political and economic life in the south?

• yeomen

• planters (plantation owners)

• indentured servants

• slaves

Multiple Choice

All Planters lived in huge mansions.

• True

• False

​Free African Americans faced constant discrimination from white southerners. Many governments passed laws limiting the rights of free African Americans. Most free African Americans could not vote, travel freely, or hold certain jobs. In some places, free African Americans had to have a white person represent them in any business transaction. Many white southerners argued that free African Americans did not have the ability to take care of themselves. Southerners used this belief to justify the institution of slavery. “The status of slavery is the only one for which the African is adapted,” wrote one white Mississippian. To many white southerners, the very existence of free African Americans threatened the institution of slavery.

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