Background on Southern Plantations
A plantation is made up of cash crops and the supplies needed to support the crop. These plantations were often large with many slaves working in or on them.
An important part of American agricultural history is the plantation area. This area includes the Confederacy and some other states. A plantation was used mainly for cash crops. The invention of the cotton gin, the sugar refiner and the vacuum pan evaporator greatly increased the plantation sales and need for slave work.
An important part of American agricultural history is the plantation area. This area includes the Confederacy and some other states. A plantation was used mainly for cash crops. The invention of the cotton gin, the sugar refiner and the vacuum pan evaporator greatly increased the plantation sales and need for slave work.
WorkWork was hard on the Southern plantations. The work hours were long and hot. They were forced to work for no pay in some cases. Those that worked in the fields with the owners and their families were often treated better than those that worked with the overseers. The overseers had no interest in the slaves well-being but only in the crop.
Household slaves, blacksmiths, carpenters, and drivers were far better off than the field slaves. |
Living ConditionsSlaves were given areas of a plantation for their homes. On some plantations, houses were provided by the owner, on other plantations all of the slaves had to build their own homes. The homes created by the slaves often represented those homes in Africa or where the originated. Sometimes as many as ten people shared the cramped living spaces. The homes of the slaves often had no furniture and straw pallets for beds.
However, slaves that worked in the plantation home often had better housing, clothing, and more space. |