The Antebellum
1783‐1860
Nov 72:44 PM
The Railroad Comes to SC
At the beginning of the Antebellum Period, South Carolina found a new cash crop, cotton. Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, making it easier to process cotton. Everyone in SC could grow this crop since it didn’t require a lot water like rice did. However, it was too far and expensive to transport the cotton from the Back Country to Charleston. Therefore, Back Country farmers began to selling their cotton near Columbia. Charleston began to suffer financially, leading to much complaining. To fix this problem, the South Carolina Canal and Railroad Company built a locomotive called 'The Best Friend of Charleston' to transport cotton from the Back Country to the Low Country. At the time it was built, the railroad line connecting Charleston to Hamburg, SC was the longest railroad in the World.
Nov 72:45 PM
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Slavery in South Carolina By 1860, SC had the highest % of slave holders in the country. However, most people in the state didn't actually own slaves. Those who did, owned 1‐2 slaves, working daily beside them in the fields. Most South Carolinians lived on family or subsistence farms, rather than on large plantations.
Nov 72:54 PM
Cotton gin The invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney led to an increase in the number of slaves in the SC. This was not only due to the flexibility of the cotton crop, but also due to the ever growing textile industry of both the Northern states and Britain.
Nov 73:26 PM
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Types of slave labor There were two types of slave labor found on SC plantations: gang system and task system. The gang system was used on cotton plantations. Slaves worked in large groups from sun up to sun down under the eyes of an overseer. The task was used on rice plantations. Slaves were assigned individual tasks to complete.
Nov 73:29 PM
Types of slaves Some slaves were house slaves. They worked as cooks and kitchen staff, nannies, butlers, gentleman’s valet, ladies maid. There were also yard slaves. These slaves were responsible for livestock, chickens, pig, horses. The blacksmith, wheelwright, cabinet maker, and any other skilled craftsman, were also considered yard slaves. Field hands were the most common type of slaves, working sunup to sundown, Monday through Saturday. In SC, there were working primarily on rice and indigo plantations, though some farmers owned 25 slaves that he worked beside in his fields. Sunday was the day that slaves had to themselves. They could go to church, or have African spiritual services. They could also work their own plots of land (if the master had given them any.
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Life of the slave Slaves lived in cabins close to the Big House so they could be monitored at all times. Many of them converted to Christianity, and sometimes attended church with their master and his family. Other times, they would attend services on the plantation. Slaves were allowed to get ‘married’ in a ceremony called jumping the broom. However, the master could break‐up the family at any time and sell the slaves to another master. This was done many times as a form of punishment.
Nov 73:32 PM
The Master and the Mistress also had specific jobs on the plantation. The Master’s obligations included making all business decisions, including the marketing of the crops. He also was responsible for managing the slave population. The Mistress was responsible for overseeing the running of the household, making sure each slave was completing their assigned tasks. She also looked after sick slaves, and planned all social events that were to be held at the planation (both business and pleasure).
Nov 73:45 PM
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Abolitionism Abolitionists were people who wanted to end slavery in the US. They began the Abolitionist Movement almost immediately after the American Revolution. In the Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson stated that ‘all men are created equal’. Many people found it hypocritical that the US would fight a war for independence, yet retain slavery.
Nov 88:24 AM
The Grimke Sisters
Angelina and Sarah Grimke were the daughters of a SC judge and slave owner. After witnessing slave punishment as children, they began to denounce the practice. They moved to Philadelphia, became Quakers, and published pamphlets on equal rights for whites and blacks, male and female. They also secretly taught some of the slaves in their parents how to read.
Aug 262:25 PM
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The Denmark Vesey Insurrection
• Since the Stono Rebellion in 1739, whites had been scared of another slave revolt • Sometime after the Revolution, a Capt. Joseph Vesey bought a slave he named Denmark. • In 1799, Denmark won $1500 in the lottery and purchased his freedom for $600. He used the remained of his money to become a carpenter. • Vesey was also active in church; he believed God called him to be the Moses of his people and deliver them from slavery • Began to recruit blacks to take part in this deliverance movement; said he had 9000 volunteers • Had blacksmiths make pikes and daggers; others stole pistols and powder • The revolt was scheduled to occur on July 14, 1822 • A slave told his master about the plan. The governor sent out the militia • 117 blacks were arrested, 79 put on trial, 69 convicted, 35 were hanged, including Vesey, and 37 were sold into slavery outside of the state • Arsenals were built in Columbia, Charleston (the Citadel) to protect the white population
Aug 263:04 PM
Another former slave who had run away from her master was also active in the Abolitionist Movement. Harriet Tubman led the Underground Railroad, helping slaves to make it to the North, and later Canada for their freedom. However, this movement did not impact SC, since the state was too far from the free states.
Nov 88:28 AM
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Two other famous abolitionists were William Lloyd Garrison, editor of The Liberator, an abolitionist newspaper, and Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Both of these publications helped bring more people to the anti‐slavery movement in the years immediately before the Civil War with their first‐ hand accounts of the cruelties of slavery.
Nov 88:57 AM
Southern View of Slavery i. Southerner’s saw slavery as a 'positive good' because they fed, clothed, housed and cared for the slaves, making them better off than Northern factory workers. ii. This idea leads to the growing sectionalism that divided the nation, eventually leading to the Civil War.
Nov 810:29 AM
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Sectionalism Sectionalism was having great pride in the region in which you lived. Sectionalism was not a new idea. It had existed since Colonial Times due to the different geographical regions.
Nov 810:40 AM
North: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Trading region made up of small farmers. Passed law to gradually emancipate slaves. Economy based on industry. (mainly textiles) Federalist‐ wanted a strong federal government to protect their business interests
Nov 811:08 AM
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South:
1. Plantation economy. 2. Growth in slavery due to the invention of the cotton gin. 3. Democratic‐Republican: believed in state's rights. 4. Wanted the expansion of slavery allowed in the new nation, or at least a balance of free and slave states in the Senate.
Nov 812:12 PM
New States
c.
Qualifications: had to have 100,000 residents in the area to become a state In 1820, a territory met the qualifications, and wanted to enter the Union. Missouri wanted to enter the Union (US) as a slave state South= happy North= mad
d.
Missouri Compromise for every slave state that entered
a. b.
i. e.
:
the Union, a free state must also enter; the Southern boundary of the state of Missouri would determine if they state in question would qualify as a slave or free state 1821: Missouri entered as a slave state; Maine entered as a Free state The Missouri Compromise showed the South that the North didn’t have the same values; making the South afraid the North would try to end slavery.
Nov 812:14 PM
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Nov 812:18 PM
Westward Expansion Manifest Destiny: the Americans had the God‐ given right to expand westward.
Nov 812:19 PM
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Texas Many Southerners began moving to this new area, taking their slaves with them, because there was excellent farmland for growing cotton; Mexico owned TX, and was against slavery.
Nov 81:26 PM
The War for Texas Independence and the Alamo When the American settlers refused to give up their slaves, Mexico began attacking them. In March 1836, a battle was fought at the Alamo in present‐day San Antonio, TX. The fort was commanded by William Barrett Travis of SC. Also there were his cousin James Butler Bonham (SC), Jim Bowie (KY)and Davy Crockett (TN). All of the defenders were killed by the Mexican Army. This battle became the rallying cry (Remember the Alamo!) for the remainder of the War. Texas won its independence from Mexico a month after the Battle of the Alamo, becoming the independent Republic of Texas (it was a separate country). It didn’t become a state until 1845, when it entered the Union as a slave state, making the North angry.
Nov 81:33 PM
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James Butler Bonham
William Barrett Travis; Commander of the Alamo
Aug 301:43 PM
Oregon (1846) This land, which was compromised of present‐day Washington, Oregon,
Idaho and part of Montana, was shared by the British and US. As more and more Americans moved West, they began to want to control all of the land known as Oregon Country. They wanted the border for the US to go as high as the southern boundary of Alaska (54th parallel). However, as they were involved in a war with Mexico, and couldn’t afford another one, they made a compromise with Britain: the US would get all of Oregon up to the Northern boundary of Washington State (49th parallel), while Britain would retain fishing rights on the Willamette River.
Nov 81:39 PM
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Aug 301:26 PM
Mexican‐American War: 1846‐1848 Mexico was angry that the US made a state of Texas in 1845 Therefore, they refused to recognize it as anything other than a rebellious territory The US Army said that some Mexican soldiers fired at their soldiers across the border, thus beginning the war. The US Army easily defeated the Mexican Army, even capturing Mexico City
Aug 301:30 PM
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Treaty of GuadalupeHidalgo 1. Made the Rio Grande River the official border between TX and Mexico
2. Mexico officially recognized TX Independence; Mexican Citizens living in land lost by Mexico would still have rights
3. The US paid Mexico $15 million for the present day states of CA, NM, AZ, NV, UT & CO. (this was a good deal, because gold was discovered in CA in 1849).
Aug 301:28 PM
Problems with the new lands… The North wanted the territory to be free…
The South wanted the territory to be slave…
Some people advocated popular sovereignty. This would allow the state to determine if they were slave or free after a vote. (John C. Calhoun's idea)
Aug 301:57 PM
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The Compromise of 1850 California would be a free state Slavery would be allowed in the rest of the territory gained from Mexico
Passed the Fugitive Slave Act:said that ALL slaves must be returned to their owner; if a person was caught assisting a run away, they could be fined or imprisoned; this was the ONLY thing that got the South to agree to the Compromise of 1850 (they favored Concurrent Majority)
Aug 301:59 PM
Gadsden Purchase Purchased by the Ambassador to Mexico, James Gadsden of SC (grandson to Christopher Gadsden of the ‘Don’t tread on Me’ Flag fame) for $10 million ($244 million today); solved border issues between Mexico and US, as well as was used for a railroad line; included the southernmost portions of Arizona and New Mexico.
Aug 301:37 PM
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Supreme Court Case‐ Dred Scott v. Sanford (1854‐1857): i. Dred Scott was slave who sued the widow of his owner in the Missouri Supreme Court based on having lived in free territory. ii. He said that according to the Missouri Compromise, this would make him free.
Nov 82:10 PM
The Supreme Court ruled aganist him saying: 1. They shouldn’t be hearing the case because as a slave, Dred Scott was considered property, and had no rights according to the US Constitution. 2. The Supreme Court could not interfere with the property of another according to the Constitution. 3. The Missouri Compromise was illegal because of the above statement regarding property control.
Nov 82:13 PM
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Reactions to the Dred Scott decision: 1. North: the abolitionists movement began to grow bigger, as this ruling would allow slavery ANYWHERE in the US
2. South: happy because slavery didn’t seem to be going anywhere
Nov 82:17 PM
Kansas‐Nebraska Act (1854): i. Politicians wanted the Nebraska Territory divided so they could build a railroad. This would create the states of Kansas and Nebraska.
ii. Popular sovereignty was instituted (each area would determine if they were slave or free).
iii. Pro‐slavers and abolitionists began to move to Kansas in an attempt to tip the scale to one side or the other.
Nov 81:46 PM
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Birth of the Republican Party (1854) i. Many politicians were unhappy with the Kansas‐ Nebraska Act ii. They wanted to repeal both the Kansas‐ Nebraska Act, and the Fugitive Slave Law iii. They decided to form a new party: the Republican Party
Nov 82:27 PM
Bleeding Kansas and John Brown (1856)
i. The warring groups that had moved to Kansas began to become violent.
ii. John Brown was one of the abolitionists who moved to Kansas. He thought he was God's instrument to end slavery. He led a series of attacks on pro‐slave settlers, who fought back. In the end, over 200 people were killed. This event came to be known as 'Bleeding Kansas.
Nov 82:40 PM
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John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry, VA (now WV; 1859): Unhappy with the outcome of ‘Bleeding Kansas’, John Brown decided to lead a multi‐state slave revolt to end slavery once and for all. He and his followers took over a federal arsenal in Harper's Ferry, VA (now WV). Robert E. Lee and other federal troops were sent out to end the stand‐off, capturing all of the men inside the arsenal. John Brown was tried for treason, found guilty and hanged. The South was afraid that slavery was going to end, and began to watch the North even more closely.
Nov 82:45 PM
Lincoln’s Election as president (1860) 1. In his campaign, Lincoln announced his stance on slavery: he wanted to stop the spread.
2. Fearing the worst, the South interpreted this as he wanted to completely end slavery in the US.
3. They promised to secede if he was elected president.
4. To try to keep him from being elected, they didn’t even put him on the ballots in the South.
5. However, he won, becoming the 16th President of the US.
6. South Carolina, and several other southern states, made good on their threat and seceded from the Union beginning in December 1860.
Nov 97:56 AM
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SC and other Southern states secede To secede, each state had to write an Ordinance of Secession, revoking their ratification of the US Constitution.
SC’s Ordinance of Secession said the federal government should not interfere with the decisions made by and the freedoms of an individual state.
Nov 98:02 AM
States that seceded before Fort Sumter:
States that seceded after Fort Sumter
1. SC: December 20, 1860 2. Mississippi: January 9, 1861 3. Alabama: January 11, 1861 4. Georgia: January 19, 1861 5. Louisiana: January 26, 1861 6. Texas: February 1, 1861
1. Virginia: April 17, 1861 2. Arkansas: May 6, 1861 3. Tennessee: May 7, 1861 4. North Carolina: May 20, 1861
Slave states that remained in the Union were called border states. They were:
1. Missouri 2. Kentucky 3. West Virginia 4. Maryland 5. Delaware
Nov 98:17 AM
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The issue of slavery in the US began to put many politicians, particularly in SC, on edge. Would slavery cease to exist? Not if the majority of South Carolinians had a say! Two groups, both of whom were calling for secession, formed in SC at this time: the Single‐state secessionists and the cooperationists. A third group, the Unionists, were working to keep SC in the Union.
Aug 302:03 PM
SC’s Groups Divided on Secession i. Unionists: Wanted to remain with the Union; they didn’t necessarily agree with the North, but thought the Constitution could be used to solve the problems.
ii. Cooperationists: only wanted to secede as a last resort, and only if the other states seceded at the same time.
iii. Secessionists (fire‐eaters): wanted to secede immediately, even alone if necessary; had been ready to secede since at least 1852.
Nov 98:23 AM
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Shots fired on Ft. Sumter (Charleston Harbor, SC; April 1861)
The Union/ North still controlled Fort Sumter, even though SC had seceded from the country. When Lincoln tried to send supplies to the fort, the ship was turned away. The Federal Government maintained their refusal to surrender the fort. Beginning in the early morning hours of April 12, 1861, Confederate forces in the city of Charleston began to bombard Fort Sumter. The battle lasted for 34 hours. It ended with the Union surrendering the fort to the Confederacy due to a lack of supplies. Though no one was killed in the battle, this is seen as the beginning of the American Civil War.
Nov 99:15 AM
Official Names: Confederate States of America Nicknames: the Confederacy; The South Nicknames for soldiers: Johnny Reb; Secessch Southerners called the war the War of Northern Aggression, or War for Southern Independence
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Key Players in the Confederacy
Jefferson Davis President of the Confederacy West Point Graduate (1828; 23 of 33)
Alexander Stephens Vice‐President of the Confederacy
Nov 99:38 AM
Generals of the Confederacy
Robert E. Lee (VA) Head General of the Confederacy West Point Graduate (1829; 2 of 45)
Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson (VA) President of the Confederacy West Point Graduate (1846; 17 of 59)
Jeb Stuart (VA) Confederate Cavalry Officer (considered by many to be the best) West Point Graduate (1854; 13 of 46)
Wade Hampton III (SC) Cavalry Officer (replaced Jeb Stuart when he died in battle in 1864) SC College with a degree in law
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Union Generals Gen. George B. McClellan (PA) 1st Head General of the Union West Point Graduate (1846; 2 of 59)
Gen. Ulysses S. Grant (OH) Last & most famous Head General of the Union Army West Point Graduate (1843; 21 of 39)
William T. Sherman (OH) General for the Union West Point Graduate (1840; 6 of 42)
Nov 99:58 AM
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