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Gift Giving In The Antebellum South

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The idea of gift giving in the Antebellum South, symbolized one’s stature in their community as it projected wealth, status, and honor. Furthermore, southern men of honor loved to give gifts as much as they could, even if they could not afford it as it gave the illusion that they were wealthier than they actually were. It was very important to men of honor to keep up an illusion they were more important and powerful than they actually were. These interactions were not just limited between men of honor moreover it was not uncommon for the slave owners to share gifts with their slaves, such as extra food or a day off for a holiday . The practice of the gift exchange in the Antebellum South showed paternalistic power between the master class

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