This chapter explores the experiences of African Americans in the mid-19th century. It discusses the legal status of slaves as property without rights. Most slaves worked on farms or plantations in rural areas, while some urban slaves worked in cities but had their wages go to their owners. Free blacks faced discrimination and many restrictions in both the North and South. The cotton gin and profitable cash crop of cotton led to slavery becoming necessary to the Southern economy and more valuable slaves.

1. Chapter 19
African Americans at
the Mid-Century

2. 19. 1 -Introduction
Racism- prejudice based on race.
This chapter will explore the experiences
of the African Americans .

3. 19.2 North and South, Slave and Free
Slaves Legal Status
Law defined slaves as PROPERTY not human
beings.
Legally, holders could do ANYTHING to
property.
Buy and sell slaves.
Make slaves work.
May hit or flog slaves and even kill slaves.
Will slaves to children or heirs.
Give slaves to settle a bet.
Many states wouldn’t let owners free slave.

4. Rural and Urban Slaves
Most slaves worked on farms or plantations
(rural).
Urban (city) slaves were “hired out” to work in
factory, mills or workshops.
Wages belonged to owners.
Had some freedoms and lived off the planation.

5. Free Blacks in the South
Worked as laborers, craftsmen, house servants.
Whites thought “free blacks” needed to be
controlled.
Free Blacks Couldn’t:
own guns.
travel freely between towns OR states.
work certain jobs.

6. Free Blacks in the North
discrimination- unequal treatment based on a
person’s race, gender, religion, place of birth, or
other arbitrary characteristic.
segregation- the social separation of groups of
people, especially race.
Many couldn’t vote, serve on a jury, no army,
attend any public place(school, church or
restaurant).
Some states created separate schools for
blacks.
Often got low paying jobs.

7. 19.3- The Economics of Slavery
Most Southerners didn’t have slaves
Only rich plantation owners had slaves.
Cotton gin = a profitable cash crop + slavery
became necessary!
Whites understood that the southern economy
depended on cotton & slavery.
Those without slaves dreamed of owning slaves.
Slaves became MORE valuable.
LESS likely poor whites would ever own one.

8. UGRR video questions #57
Based on your notes from the video explain the following
What region of the U.S. were the homes of the
Underground Railroad? Explain the significance?
What occupation many of the men have? What
connection can you make?
Explain some motivating factors that led these
men to help on the Underground Railroad.
What interesting facts were you most impressed
with?

9. Final Review for Chapter 19 TEST
notes will be collected!
Difference between racism, discrimination and
segregation
Know the difference between slave and free blacks,
urban vs. rural
Know what Free & slave people could/couldn’t do.
Know economy- cotton gin, plantation owners &
small farmers

10. Final Review for Chapter 19 TEST
Be able to explain the following:
jobs- main and other - hours
homes, food, clothes & medical care
ways to control -( violent & non-violent)
ways to resist - ( passive & violent)
positives & negatives of family life
leisure activities- work and play
the master’s church vs. invisible church
4 types of African Culture that was incorporated.
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