ANTH 3101 Lecture 5: Civil War and the South
CIVIL WAR AND THE SOUTH
ANTH 3101, SPRING 2019
Taken from Canvas Lecture
Slavery and the Formation of the United States
Slavery at a Glance
Major factor to Civil War
Aftermath continues to shape contemporary American ideologies
Legal from 1619 to 1865
Slave trade became largest economic force in the South
Approx. 450,000 enslaved Africans initially shipped; reproduced through intentional and
natural breeding
Approx. 2 million people died in Middle Passage
Most Africans shipped to Caribbean and South America
Slaves composed 1/3 of entire population of slave holding states in 1860
Not until 2008 the US House of Representatives passed a resolution apologizing for
American slavery and discriminatory structures left
Slaves were legal non-persons; but punished as people in the event they committed a crime
Cultural Strategies of Slaves
Introduction
To cope, slaves developed survival strategies that contributed to vital cultural heritage
Blended African and European cultural elements
Culture of African slaves and descendants has been major influences on American and world
culture
Religion
Christianity, syncretized it with traditional African belief systems
Provided slaves with support networks, rituals, and practices necessary to foster patience
and hope of deliverance
Upheld a vision of the spiritual equality of all human beings
Syncretism
Attempt to reconcile contradictory beliefs and blend practices of various traditions,
theology, mythology and religion
Oral Tradition and Slave Narratives
Folktales and fables reflected oral traditions of African societies and incorporated African
symbolism and motifs
Imparted practical knowledge and survival and coping strategies
Context and Results of the US Civil War
Context of the Civil War
(1861-1865); US separated by Mason-Dixon Line
North and Midwest primarily non-slave holding urban or semi-urban populations
South slave holding population relying on plantation economy with few urban centers
Differences in lifestyle and labor divided country; political balance shifted In favor of the
North
Compromise of 1850 tried to diffuse sectional tension
1860, Lincoln elected and 11 southern states voted to secede
Document Summary
Slavery and the formation of the united states. Slave trade became largest economic force in the south. 450,000 enslaved africans initially shipped; reproduced through intentional and natural breeding. Most africans shipped to caribbean and south america. Slaves composed 1/3 of entire population of slave holding states in 1860. Not until 2008 the us house of representatives passed a resolution apologizing for. Slaves were legal non-persons; but punished as people in the event they committed a crime. To cope, slaves developed survival strategies that contributed to vital cultural heritage. Culture of african slaves and descendants has been major influences on american and world culture. Christianity, syncretized it with traditional african belief systems. Provided slaves with support networks, rituals, and practices necessary to foster patience and hope of deliverance. Upheld a vision of the spiritual equality of all human beings. Attempt to reconcile contradictory beliefs and blend practices of various traditions, theology, mythology and religion.
