The Myth of the Antebellum South
Assignment
- Give each picture a title.
- Read each section under the title, The Myth of the Antebellum South.
- Create a thinking statement for each section.
- Watch the videos.
- Create a thinking statement for each video.
- Read the 4 abolitionists' biographies.
- Create a thinking statement for each person.
- Watch the last video.
- Create a thinking statement for the video.
The Myth of the Antebellum South
Slave Life
Slave life was very different based on whether you worked outside on a plantation, or were a domestic slave. Slaves on plantations worked with overseers. Overseers were paid workers who would try to get the most out of the slaves, often being ruthless and cruel. Sometimes if the plantation or farm didn’t have an overseer they would have a slave driver instead. The slave driver was another slave and would receive better treatment in exchange for doing similar work to an overseer. Slaves would work from sunrise to sunset six days a week. They would live in small houses with a dirt floor and poor conditions. Often, the owner would either not feed the slave, or beat the slave as punishment.
Slave Codes
Slave codes stated the rights of slaves. They also described how slaves should be treated. These laws were to try to stop slave rebellion and people who were against slavery. Some examples of laws were:
Slaves were prohibited from reading and writing.
Slaves cannot hit a white person, even in self-defense.
Slaves cannot leave master’s property without permission.
Any slave attempting to escape receives the death penalty.
The laws varied from state to state, but there were many similarities.