Why Did The South Grow Research Paper
Jacob Hosier
Ms. Stewart
US History I H
February 26, 2015 Prompt: Dr. Brinkley quotes a prominent historian who wrote, “The South grew, but it did not develop.” Assess the validity of this statement for the years between 1800 and 1860. (set a chart up showing a similar column and a difference column) Thesis: Although the South did develop a growing merchant class during these years and the population grew; there were not many changes in the social and economic structure of the South.
Similarities (did not develop)
● Tobacco prices were subject to frequent depressions meaning that the economy of the South did not improve. ● Tobacco rapidly exhausted the land on which it grew, it was difficult for many growers to stay in business. The
economy was not stable and the social gap between rich and poor was very large. ● The expansion of slavery contributed to the fact of the growing population,
(the slave population growing in hundreds of thousands), the point
Brinkley makes about the South developing is that their social structure stayed the same and today we view it as dehumanizing and cruel. Their attitudes toward slaves did not change which prevented them from developing as a more aware people.
● Aside of the Plantation economy, the merchant economy was not good and they had a weak manufacturing sector.
Because of this, they did not develop any sort of industrialization to rival the North.
Differences (developed)
● The South grew and developed during this time period. The tobacco economy was very lucrative and made many people lots of money. The growers of other crops such as rice, sugar, and cotton.
● Cotton production developed and grew rapidly, because of this more slaves were needed to do the work.
Because in the increase of slaves, the
South developed because the increase in their crops provided them with more jobs and opportunities.
● Other forms of economic activity developed in the South. The merchant class developed. Although it started off slow, there was growing activity in flour milling and in textile and iron manufacturing, particularly in the upper South. The South at this point developed a new form of economic
activity.
Ms. Stewart
US History I H
February 26, 2015 Prompt: Dr. Brinkley quotes a prominent historian who wrote, “The South grew, but it did not develop.” Assess the validity of this statement for the years between 1800 and 1860. (set a chart up showing a similar column and a difference column) Thesis: Although the South did develop a growing merchant class during these years and the population grew; there were not many changes in the social and economic structure of the South.
Similarities (did not develop)
● Tobacco prices were subject to frequent depressions meaning that the economy of the South did not improve. ● Tobacco rapidly exhausted the land on which it grew, it was difficult for many growers to stay in business. The
economy was not stable and the social gap between rich and poor was very large. ● The expansion of slavery contributed to the fact of the growing population,
(the slave population growing in hundreds of thousands), the point
Brinkley makes about the South developing is that their social structure stayed the same and today we view it as dehumanizing and cruel. Their attitudes toward slaves did not change which prevented them from developing as a more aware people.
● Aside of the Plantation economy, the merchant economy was not good and they had a weak manufacturing sector.
Because of this, they did not develop any sort of industrialization to rival the North.
Differences (developed)
● The South grew and developed during this time period. The tobacco economy was very lucrative and made many people lots of money. The growers of other crops such as rice, sugar, and cotton.
● Cotton production developed and grew rapidly, because of this more slaves were needed to do the work.
Because in the increase of slaves, the
South developed because the increase in their crops provided them with more jobs and opportunities.
● Other forms of economic activity developed in the South. The merchant class developed. Although it started off slow, there was growing activity in flour milling and in textile and iron manufacturing, particularly in the upper South. The South at this point developed a new form of economic
activity.