Lesson 70: Southern Culture

     In 1850, the south had formed its own culture and became an aristocracy where white men with the biggest plantations were the highest ranking people with the most power.
 The wealthy gained their money (and social status) through the black slaves which ran their plantations.  The more slaves you had, the more money you made, the higher your rank was.

 Black slaves could be treated very badly in the south, but when certain abolitionists tried to argue against slavery, others in favor of it would come back with their own arguments for it.
 Some of the arguments they made were that slaves were better off in America than other countries. In America they would be "civilized and could learn about Christianity."

But the people in favor of slavery never argued for their true motives for keeping slaves, making  money.