United States History Student Edition

only a small percentage of slaveholders held 20 or more enslaved people. In much of the south, these wealthy planters held the majority of enslaved people. For example in Florida, the planter class represented only 21 percent of the state’s total slaveholders, but they owned 75 percent of Florida’s enslaved people. Earning profits was the main goal for owners of large plantations. To make a profit, they needed to bring in more money than they spent to run their plantations. Large plantations had fixed costs, which are operating costs that remain much the same year after year. For example, the cost of housing and feeding the enslaved is a fixed cost. There is no easy way to reduce a fixed cost. Yet the price of cotton went up or down from season to season, increasing or decreasing the plantation owners’ profits. A change in price often meant the difference between a successful year for a plantation and a bad one. Plantation owners—who were almost always men—traveled frequently in order to ensure fair dealings with traders. Their wives often took charge of their households and supervised the buildings. They watched over the work of the enslaved people in the home and sometimes tended to them when they became ill. Women often kept the plantation’s financial records. Keeping a plantation running involved many tasks. Some enslaved people cleaned the house, cooked, did laundry and sewing, and served meals. Others were trained as blacksmiths, carpenters, shoemakers, or weavers. Still others tended livestock. Most enslaved African Americans, however, were field hands. They worked from sunrise to sunset planting, tending, and harvesting crops. An overseer (OH•vuhr•see•uhr), or plantation manager, normally supervised them. 7 CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING 1. Contrasting How did the way of life for yeomen farmers differ from that of plantation owners? 2. Making Connections Why do you think it would have been difficult to ensure a profit every year on a large plantation?

Southern Population, 1860 In 1860, about 400,000 households in the South held enslaved people. Nearly 4 million African Americans remained in slavery.

17%

32%

2%

49%

Free Enslaved African Americans Whites

Not Slaveholders Slaveholders

*Total Population = 12 million Source: Geospatial and Statistical Data Center

CIVICS CONNECTION 1. Calculating If the total population of the South was 12 million in 1860, how many were free African Americans? 2. Analyzing Visuals How did the total number of African Americans living in the South in 1860 compare with the total number of white residents?

These rural poor were often stubborn and independent. Although they were looked down upon by many, especially wealthy planters, they were proud of their ability to provide for their families. A small number of free African Americans also owned small farms. A few held enslaved people. Some free African Americans bought members of their own families to free them, although others used enslaved people to work in the fields. Plantation Owners The largest plantations covered several thousand acres. In addition to the land they owned, plantation owners measured their wealth by the number of enslaved people they had. In 1860,

overseer a plantation manager

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