Plantation Life 1820-1860.

In order to understand our history, we must learn about plantation life. Plantations were characterized by large acreage- in the thousands, and slavery. During the period of the 1820s-1860s, cotton production was the primary source of income. Plantation owners, looking to create a greater profit, acquired slaves to work their crops. As a result, the economy was thriving, thus increasing the use of slave labor. During this time, wealth was primarily measured by the number of acres and the number of slaves you owned- the more you had, the wealthier you were. All of the owner's profits were a direct result of slave labor. Slaves were not looked upon as human beings but as property and therefore treated accordingly. These events resulted in so much sorrow, so much pain, and all in the name of advancement and wealth.
The purpose of this presentation is to simply inform you of the living conditions and lives of the people involved during this plantation life era- owners and slaves alike. Also as you read, think of how these events may have played a role in making the America we are now.