Social Issues

Chapter 19: Drifting Toward Disunion Uncle Tom?s Cabin?1852 Harriet Beecher Stowe Inspired by the 2nd Great Awakening Wanted to show the North the horrors of slavery Especially the breaking up of families South claimed that the novel was unfair Not an accurate portrayal of slavery Stowe had never seen slavery in the Deep South Novel was very successful Millions of copies sold in US and abroad Huge political impact Northerners decided not to enforce the Fugitive Slave Law Boys who read the book in the North would be Union soldiers Popularity with the public in Europe kept European leaders from helping the South in the Civil War Another influential book The Impending Crisis of the South?1857?Hinton R. Helper

Chapter 16: The South and the Slavery Controversy ?Cotton is King!? The South produced more than ? of the world?s supply of cotton Cotton accounted for about ? of all exports after 1840 Britain was the leading industrial power and? Its single most important manufacture was cotton cloth 1/5 of British population worked in cotton manufacturing About 75% of its cotton came from the South Southern leaders believed the British would protect them in a war with the North because of their dependence on the South for cotton? Cotton King The Planter Aristocracy The South could be described as an oligarchy What is an oligarchy? Government run by a few (usually wealthy have the power) Widened the gap between the rich and the poor Wealthy children went to private schools, therefore