Topic: MAJOR TYPES OF FARMING OPERATIONS IN ANTEBELLUM ARKANSAS:

Grade Level: Fourth: Eight Grades

Time: One to Two Days

Objective: Students will read the handout and provide correct responses on the accompanying worksheet.

Resources: Negro Slavery in Arkansas, Orville W. Taylor
Arkansas 1800-1860: Remote and Restless, S. Charles Bolton

Key Terms: Antebellum factor delta overseer squatter Planter yeoman farmer subsistence farmer

Key Facts: There were 4 main types of farming operations in Antebellum Arkansas:
(Antebellum means "before the war." In U.S. history it means before the Civil War (1861-1865)

I. Squatter farms (a squatter is a person who settled on vacant land that was owned by the U.S. Government.)

These farmers were usually subsistence farmers (those who grew just enough food for themselves and their families). They often settled in the western part of Arkansas, where almost no other white people lived. Usually, these farmers hoped to buy the land from the U.S. Government after they had more money.

II. Yeomen farms with no slaves. (A yeoman farmer was one who owned land, but not very much of it - usually less than 100 acres - and usually didn't have much money.)

This was the most common type of farm in Arkansas at the time. (In the years just before the Civil War started, about 70% of the farms were of this type.) These types of farms were most common in the highlands (in the Ouachita or the Ozark Mountains and the surrounding area.) Yeomen farmers mainly raised corn and hogs.

Even though they owned no slaves, some of these yeomen farmers had close working relationships with those who owned a lot of slaves, and would often sell some of their crops to a plantation with many slaves.

III. Yeoman farms with a few slaves.

These farms were larger than the yeoman farms that had no slaves. Yeomen farmers with slaves had more money than yeoman farmers who owned no slaves. (Depending on whether a slave were male or female, and depending on the age of the slave, slaves in Arkansas usually cost anywhere from $100 to $1,200. The most expensive slaves were usually young adult males. If a slave had a special skill, such as blacksmithing, he might cost even more.)

Usually, a slave owner with just a few slaves was closely attached to them. Even though he owned the slaves and could work them very hard, he usually thought of them as almost being part of his own family.

IV. Large farms run by "planters" (wealthy salve owners who owned 20 or more slaves)

These were wealthy farmers who usually made most of their money by growing cotton (although they also grew other crops, including corn and vegetables). Only about 3% of farmers were planters.

Most Arkansas planters lived in the delta region. (A delta region is a low area along a river that has very rich soil.) In Arkansas, the delta is in the eastern part of the state, along the Mississippi River.)

On plantations (large farms owned by planters) someone besides the planter usually had the responsibility of supervising the slaves. Sometimes this person who supervised the slaves was an overseer - a white man hired by the plantation owner. In other cases, though, the plantation owner would use a slave driver. A slave driver was a slave who was given the responsibility of supervising the other slaves while they worked. Even though the slave driver was himself a slave, he was given a better place to live, better clothes, and more privileges than other slaves.

Most planters owned 20-30 slaves, but some owned a lot more. Elisha Worthington, who lived in Chicot county (SE part of AR), owned more slaves than anyone in Arkansas. In 1860, he owned 543 slaves and 12,000 acres of land.

Many of the larger plantation owners contracted with another man to act as their agent in buying what supplies that were needed (and sometimes to buy more slaves for them also) and selling crops that were produced. Someone who acted as such an agent was called a "factor." A factor wasn't hired as an employee of the planter, but usually was paid a fee that was usually about 2-3% of the total cost of what he bought or sold for the planter.

Sometimes, if a yeoman farmer who lived near a plantation wanted to sell some of his crops and couldn't find a nearby merchant who wanted to buy them, he might get a plantation owner to help him work out an arrangement with the planter's factor.

Activity: SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS:

During what years did the U.S. Civil War take place?
About what percentage of Arkansan farmers were considered "planters?"
What was the main crop grown by planters?
What was the most common type of farm found in Arkansas before the Civil War?
Which man in Arkansas history owned the most slaves? How many did he own?
In what part of the state did most planters live?
What were the two main things that usually determined the price paid for slaves?

TRUE/FALSE:

Planters usually grew only one crop on their plantations.
Most white Arkansans owned slaves in the years before the Civil War.
Sometimes, a slave would supervise other slaves on the plantations.
Most large plantations were located in the mountainous regions of Arkansas.

SHORT ESSAY:

Why do you think that even though most Arkansans did not own slaves, many of them supported the idea of slavery? (Use the information in this worksheet and your own thinking skills.)

Closure: Students will demonstrate an accurate understanding of the major types of farming operations in Antebellum Arkansas by giving correct responses to the short answer and True/False questions, by giving accurate definitions for the vocabulary words, and by answering the essay question lucidly, with a response that reflects an understanding of the contention in an agrarian economy that was dominated socially, economically, and politically by a slave-holding class of planters.

By Stanley Hall

Topic: ARKANSAS' CHANCES FOR ENTERING THE UNION AS EITHER A SLAVE OR A FREE STATE :

Grade Level: Fourth - Eighth Grade

Time: One to Two Days

Objective: Following readings/activities/ discussions of the events in U.S. and AR history that led up to AR's admission as a state in 1836, students will participate actively and successfully in the discussion outlined below (or a corresponding essay question) , articulating their views of whether it was inevitable that AR would enter the Union as a slave state.

Set: Prior to the activity/assessment, students should have a firm grasp of the following events/developments/facts:

Key Facts: Long history of slavery in Arkansas dating from the time of the John Law colony in the early 18th century.

Arrival of many subsistence and yeomen farmers in AR (who did not own slaves) in the early 19th century following U.S. purchase of Louisiana. (The fact that during the early 19th century, the overwhelming majority of white Arkansans did not own slaves.)

Suitability of much of Arkansas' climate and soil to plantation agriculture.

Argument among some Arkansans (and some prominent Northern Congressmen) that small white farmers should not have to compete in the market with slave labor.

Development of a nascent abolitionist movement in the North during the early 19th century. (Noting, however, that it didn't really become strong early enough to block Arkansas' request to be admitted to the Union as a slave state.)

Abortive proposal (as enunciated by James Tallmadge of NY) that Missouri be admitted to the Union with the stipulation that no more slaves could be brought to Missouri and that those who were already there would be emancipated eventually.

Abortive proposal (put forward by John Taylor of NY) to ban all slavery west of the Mississippi River, with the exception on the state of Louisiana.

Abortive proposal (that initially passed the House) that AR be admitted as a slave territory on the condition that slaves be emancipated at the age of 25.

Missouri's ultimate admission to the Union as a slave state with no restrictions.

Arkansas' ultimate status as a slave territory with no restrictions.

Growing expectation that any new state south a line that comprised the southern border of Missouri would also enter the Union as a slave state.

Relatively close proximity of Arkansas to major slave markets, such as New Orleans and Memphis.

Desire of other slave owners/champions in the South for slavery to expand:

1. Since cotton farming depleted the soil rapidly and planters wanted to have other areas in which they or their descendants could operate

2. Since there was a desire among planters in the older Southern states to retain their political on a federal level.

Argument put forward by Albert Pike that if AR were to become a free state, it would almost inevitably become viewed among slaves as a potential haven for runaways since all the surrounding states were slave states. (That this would create a destabilizing force in the state's society, as well as create friction with neighboring states).

Desire among Arkansas politicians to have greater representation in Congress (in light of the "3/5 Compromise" that was enshrined in the Constitution).

Rapid growth of slavery in AR between 1819-1836 and the accompanying rise in the political influence of planters.

Request of Michigan to be admitted to the Union as a state at about the same time as Arkansas, and the persistent desire among many Congressmen to keep the number of slave states and free states equal.

Arkansas' admission to the Union as a slave state by an overwhelming vote of both houses.

Activity: There were several factors that explain Arkansas' admission to the Union as a slave state. Write a short essay that mentions all the major reasons, showing how these reasons are interrelated.

Alternately phrased question:

Was it inevitable that AR would become a slave state? If not, was it at least very likely that AR would be admitted as a slave state? Why or why not?

Activity for middle

or highschool

students: Draw a time line that includes the major events leading up to AR's admission as a slave state. (This should go back to the introduction of slaves at Arkansas Post in the late 17th century.)

Closure: Students will demonstrate the ability to articulate, in their own words, the complex various political, historical, and geographic factors that explain AR's admission as a slave state.

By Stanley Hall