Antebellum

Social expectations of the Antebellum period played a grand role in everyday lives of the people of the time, and especially the region. One particular book, The Laws of Etiquette, written in 1836 gives an introductory to why these “laws” are of great importance to follow as the writer remarks, “these forms may be abundantly absurd but still they must be attended to; for one half the world does and always will observe them, and the other half is at a great disadvantage if it does not .” As many…

Antebellum abolitionism is the era before the civil war and after the war of 1812. This sets up the time period in which the author will be speaking of. It also introduces the reader the steps in what the states had to take before initializing the abolition…

The Antebellum Debate over Slavery, a questionable topic, split the nation and the church into separate entities. Whether Christians believed slavery was morally correct cannot be answered with a simple “yes” or “no”. It may have been a surprise that some religious traditions have not always been opposed to what today is clearly judged as a “heinous social evil: slavery.” It has been historically argued that the role of Christianity played parts in both the promotion and abolition of slavery.…

For much of the 21st century it was believed that slavery caused the economy of the Antebellum South to stagnate. Many historians took issue with the profitability of slavery and thought that its demise was inevitable, regardless of the Civil War. Some even consider the Antebellum South’s economy to be backwards in the sense that slave labour rates were so competitive that it resulted in the wages of other free workers to drop below the subsistence level (Conrad & Meyer 1971, 341). This created…

Plantation Mistresses in the Antebellum of South Carolina “Born in patriarchy and nurtured by slavery, the southern lady was the imaginative construct of white, slaveholding who looked to her to rationalize their peculiar race and gender systems” (Chemishanova 1). The Southern lady served as an example of morality and devotion, she was saintly and passive, submissive and loyal. She focused on pleasing her husband and managing his household. Women in the Antebellum were not supposed to take…

The family structure of the slaves incorporated their previous African culture with the harsh reality of life in the New World to produce a family structure that was necessary to the slaves of the antebellum time period. This family structure was highly depended upon but was thwarted through the violence of everyday life. The cruelty that the white slave owners showed to the slaves was undoubtedly learned over time by the slaves. The physical manifestation of power over the slaves from the…

During the Antebellum Era, early feminist, although they did not directly referred to themselves that, criticizes English society’s treatment of women in justification of women’s rights. One of these women went by the name of Mary Wollstonecraft, who is known today for her efforts in the rights for women. She worked on emphasizing women’s female identity over her sexual identity, along with being educated. Wollstonecraft brings up countless times how women play in lowering recognition of their…

The Influence of the Antebellum South in “Desiree’s Baby” Kate Chopin’s story “Desiree’s Baby” takes place in the 19th century at a time where racism and the institution of slavery in the South were at their peaks. Society was dominated by men of the White race, and both women and people of color were expected to conform to the rules set in place by a racist patriarchal culture. The story focuses on the hardships that the main character Desiree faces when it becomes apparent that her child with…

In today’s world, feminism and gender equality are ideas that are being recognized and carried out by both women and men. During the shaping of America, those subjects would not have been discussed. However, the Women’s Rights Movement in Antebellum America changed the course for females in society. It allowed women to start the crusade for gender equality until the Civil War. The Civil War was a catalyst for women in American society as they developed a new sense of freedom from the new…

It’s funny how Historian’s like to use explosive language like “revolution” and “boom” to describe events that took several decades to develop. During the Antebellum Period, both the North and the South underwent economic, social, and ideological changes but they happened much more subtly than the titles suggest. The North moved more noticeably into their new era of progress and hard work, while in the South changes were leisurely and served more to solidify their culture. In the simplest terms,…