The classes which existed in Antebellum South amongst the whites were the gentry or the planter class. This was considered to be most powerful, and they owned larg3 tracts of plantations, and also they had more than twenty slaves who worked on their farms. This class is made of individuals who are public officials, well to do professional men like the doctors and the business leaders. This made the small group of individuals in the government, but they were powerful to the point that they are the ones controlling much of the state's government and businesses. Though there are many of the whites who owned many slaves, they do not fall in the planter class. Those who do not fall in that category have less than ten slaves working for them.
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