Life in Antebellum America Unit 4, Lesson 3 Essen7al Idea •  The North, West, and South had different cultures during the Antebellum Period. Antebellum Period Time Period: Antebellum Period Meaning: Time in American history BEFORE the Civil War (“antebellum” is La7n for “before war”) •  The North, West, and South were very different during the Antebellum Period • 
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Life in the North • 
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Northern Farming Declines: Climate in the North was colder Soil was rockier and less fer7le Farms were small due to high popula7on Small farms struggled to compete with large farms in the West Results: Result #1-­‐ Some farmers moved west to start bigger farms on fer7le soil Result #2-­‐ Some abandoned farming and moved to ci7es to work in factories Urbaniza7on •  Urbaniza7on: •  Many farmers in the North moved into ci7es •  Many immigrants moved into ci7es •  Both groups moved to ci7es to work in FACTORIES •  Urbaniza7on-­‐ growth of ci7es, which happened mainly in the North Life in Northern Ci7es • 
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Problems with Urbaniza7on: 1. Overcrowding: Ci7es struggled to adjust to the popula7on boom Tension grew between Americans and immigrants 2. Crime: Rise in crime led to crea7on of police departments 3. Fire: Crowded wooden buildings were a fire danger, so fire departments developed Life in Northern Ci7es •  4. Sanita7on: •  No sewers and horses were used for transporta7on •  Human/animal waste and trash ro]ed in streets •  5. Families: •  Less close since men le_ home to work in factories •  Poor working condi7ons led to alcohol abuse, hur7ng families Northern Factories • 
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Factory Condi7ons: Bosses had a nega7ve rela7onship with workers Workers worked long hours for low wages Condi7ons were unsafe and unsanitary Working Condi7ons •  Lowell Mill System: •  Tex7le mills employed single women and children •  Workers lived in dorms built around the mill, crea7ng a “company town” •  They were strictly controlled, worked long hours, and were paid even less than men Early Unions • 
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Unions: Some workers formed unions to push for be]er condi7ons Unions had li]le success, seen as bad or illegal Commonwealth v. Hunt-­‐ Supreme Court ruled that unions were legal Life in the West • 
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Farming: Farming was common, where large pieces of fer7le land existed Psychological impact: Isolated, lonely, fearful of conflict with Indians Connec7on with Ci7es: Farmers relied on internal improvements to trade with ci7es in the North Life in the South •  The Co]on Gin and Slavery: •  The co]on gin caused slavery to expand throughout the South •  There were 4 MILLION slaves in America when the Civil War began •  The Growth of Slavery The “Co]on Kingdom” •  “Co]on Kingdom:” •  The South was called the “Co]on Kingdom” because its economy was based on co]on and slavery •  Expansion and Sec7onalism: •  Southerners wanted slavery to expand to the West, where more land was available •  This caused tension with northerners who did not want slavery to expand Life in the South •  Lack of industrializa7on: •  Wealthy planters held the most poli7cal and economic power •  Planters had li]le interest in industrializa7on since they made money from planta7ons •  Southern society remained based on co]on produc7on Society in the South •  White Society: •  MOST whites did NOT own slaves, but did support it •  Wealthy planters: •  Smallest group, but had the most money, power, land, and slaves •  Yeoman Farmers: •  Largest group, owned few if any slaves, lived modestly, had li]le power •  Poor Whites: •  Owned li]le land and no slaves, but supported slavery due to racism? •  Freemen: •  Some blacks were free, many had saved money to buy their own freedom • 
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Slavery Slave codes: Slave codes were laws that helped control slaves Slaves could not own property, own guns, tes7fy against whites, or become literate Purpose: Keep slaves at the bo]om of society Keep slaves too ignorant to be able to rebel Slavery Planta7on Condi7ons •  Planta7on condi7ons: •  Slaves were viewed and treated as property •  Most slaves worked hard from dawn 7ll dusk •  Life for Slaves Planta7on Condi7ons •  Slaves were mo7vated to work by the threat of physical punishment •  Slave auc7ons sold slaves and o_en permanently separated families •  Planta7on Slavery Slave Culture •  Slave culture: •  Slave families were strong despite oppression •  Songs were important and o_en contained hidden meanings •  Chris7anity was important to many slaves and gave them hope • 
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Resistance and Rebellion Resistance: Passive resistance—slaves o_en sabotaged equipment and engaged in work slow downs Running away—slaves o_en ran away, o_en using the Underground Railroad Resistance and Rebellion •  Rebellions: •  Occasionally slaves rebelled with violence •  Slave rebellions led to 7ghter slave codes