Oct 10th class notes 4th period

Agriculture in Chesapeak region declining

1. The excessive growing of tobacco depleted the soil of nutrients
2. Slave owners had little use for threir slaves

Cotton- the wonder crop

1. in 1793 Eli Whitny invented the cotton gin(also Standardization)
2. Plantation owners found that cotten grew well in the south and due to the cotton gin production sky rocketed
3. Plantation owners begain buying slaves from the Northern States, West Indies, and Africa
4. Slave imports were set to cease in 1808 by constitutional law and Southren Planters were hurring to buy as many as possible before the shut down of the slave market
5. Cotton production brought in vast amounts of forgein money and helped in the expansion of the port cities

Sea Ports- First large cities because they were centers of trade

1. class distintions grew amonst the merchant class
2. very few became very rich and the majority became lower mid-class or upper lower-class
3. cheaper labor caused the decline of master craftsmen

Family roles

1. America became known as the "Alcoholic Republic"
2. Paternal power begain to decline
3. Sons were unable to inherit the family farm
4. daughters were unable to give big doweries
5. Children moved away from family
6. number of pregnancies outside of marrige incresed

Citizenship

1. Dropped the Free Land Clause- required land to vote
2. to obtain voting rights one had to be An Adult white male who pays taxes
3. opened the vote and made US less aristocratic