The planter elites were the wealthiest people of society. There were considered the elite southerners who owned of one hundred slaves. They had large plantations they lived a life of luxury and many were Political leaders. The yeomen had a small farm. They made up a large population of whites in the old south. Some of them owned slaves but most of them could not afford them. They worked in the field with family and slaves if they owned any. They were considered honest hard working people. The poor whites owned no land or slaves. Some of them were consider squatters. They were usually alcoholics and did not agree with slavery.
Black society in the south was hard. Whites had all the power and blacks were treated as property. Whites believe that fear and force would allow them to control their slaves. Some slaves were consider free slaves. They could become a free slave a number of way. Some of them where emancipated by their slave owner. Some brought their freedom. Some slaves. If you were the slave masters offspring you could be freed by them. Some were old and there was not a need for them so they were set free. A lot of slaves escape to freedom. All free slaves were at risk of being kidnapped into