Lecture 4 - Making a planter aristocracy PDF

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Making a planter aristocracy...

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Lecture 4 – Making a planter aristocracy  

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Enslaved black women in North worked as domestic servants Non-geographical division between slaves and masters in the north, unlike the south - more intimacy o Slaves more integrated in white families In every area, no. of slaves increased – New York, 1,200 to 8,996 from 1680-1740 o Not just a Southern institution Slave labour mostly used to cultivate tobacco o The economic powerhouse for northern colonies From the period 1680-1740: o Maryland’s slaves increased from 1,611 to 24,000 o Virginia’s slaves increased from 3,000 to 60,000 A lot of rice production in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina o In 1680 3 or 4 thousand slaves, by 1740 there were 42,000 1708- majority black population in South Carolina o 75% of those there were of African descent Population of African Americans growing everywhere o By the 19th century, the slave population began to replenish, rather than through mass importation of Africans o A lot of natural increase in this period  But due to climate, mortality rates were high  Africans had genetic mutation due to their blood cells – sickle cell  Better immunity and resistance to tropical diseases and climates of the low countries  It was believed they had a natural immunity o But slavery was strenuous and pregnant women weren’t let off  Therefore, child mortality rates were high By 1793 British territory had hugely expanded to most of the eastern half of the states o Took over Florida from Spain o Spanish Florida was a threat to Britain Indigenous communities displayed agency o Held their own in places, such as revolts in Mexico o Indigenous rose up against the Spanish – 2,500 settlers died o Re-shaped how Spain dealt with the people o They were pushing back against white settlers o 13 towns in New England wiped out by Native Americans, with 1000 English colonist’s dead Population growth accompanied the expansion and diversity of trade o New England economy more diverse than Southern colonies  Focused on cash crops like tobacco o Pennsylvania and New York – wheat and grains were prominent exports  Centres of capital finance o South Carolina – new crops like rice dominated the export trade  Also, indigo By 1st half of the 18th century, there was a consumer revolution

Different things became important commodities, such as cloth, ceramics, textiles, paper, cutlery – all for less money  There was an increased access to English consumer goods o Whereas before it was all based-on tea, chocolate etc. o Leads to more of an advertising industry  Consumption was to convey information about identity and social class  Clothes, drinks, house decorations etc.  Most expensive goods came from England  Buying into the English aristocracy proved status as a colonial  English fashions dictated colonial fashions William Byrd – refinement of the Colonial Elite o Prominent figure in England o 1705 returned to Virginia and displayed his wealth through his clothing, horses etc. o Remained connected to the English elite in Virginia o But with slaves, he referred to them as part of his family, advised and spoke to them and gave them medicine o But was also capable of abusing his slaves Economic inequality o Virginia – Southerners were the richest colonists with more lands and more slaves reproducing o Some white settlers in the south couldn’t afford slaves o Many farmers couldn’t sell tobacco due to limited transport o Even for white indentured servants, conditions could be harsh Creolisation: becoming African American o Mixing of language, culture etc. o New creation o Black creoles were isolated from both Africans and Americans  Felt different to Americans as spoke different languages and felt different to Europeans due to different skin colours Gang Labour o Occurred in the South, especially in Virginia and Maryland o Associated with tobacco and cotton o Worked in large groups, all day with very little free time o Each gang did different jobs o Extensively supervised by white overseers o Always more work to be done with these crops Task Labour o Rice and Coffee o Low country colonies, Carolinas and Georgia o ‘Tasks’ – not so much a quantity of a good but a certain task  E.g. building a fence around a field o Less supervision, but still exploitation o Gender division of labour (men plant, women care for the crop) o Wide degree of autonomy for enslaved people – more free time once tasks done  Used this time to cultivate their own crops o Fewer slaves converting to Christianity A diverse economy meant diverse ways/methods of slave labour o

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