Read, in The South, a History

Chapter 9, "The Institution of Slavery" pp. 192-208
Chapter 10, "The World of the Slaves" pp. 209-229

These two chapters are very important for understanding the evolution of the institution of slavery and the various aspects of black life under that institution. Understand what a "slave code" is and how slave codes are indicative of white uneasiness concerning the slave system. Chapter 10 records a variety of different types of slavery: not all slaves were plantation workers. It also records different ways blacks responded to their condition as they tried to maintain some semblance of normal family life. Further, it explores a number of different methods by which blacks resisted slavery.

Additional Materials: Download "Nat Turner explains why he led his revolt against slavery." http://vi.uh.edu/pages/mintz/32.htm

CAS 129 (large lecture hall) at 7:00. Background on the importance of the film, as well as a summary of its story line can be found at http://www.filmsite.org/birt.html

Read: in The South, a History

Chapter 12. The Free Social Order pp. 254-279

We're going to skip chapter 11 for the time being and move on to chapter 12, which will give us a chance to think further about the various character types associated with Southern Culture. You'll find planters, yeomen, poor whites, and free blacks mentioned in this chapter. Be aware, too, of the role of women. We began to talk about some of this in class on the 6^th of February.

Additional Materials: Further information on southern types can be found in sections of a hypertext document prepared by students of the American Studies program at the University of Virginia. The document isn't entirely easy to navigate. The sections you want to read, download an bring with you to class are

The Yoeman (sic) and the Cracker http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/HNS/Yoeman/intro2.html
which continues at http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/HNS/Yoeman/yman3.html , and then
The Poor White at http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/HNS/Yoeman/crack1.html,
The Cavalier at http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/HNS/Yoeman/cav1.html
and finally, Augustus Baldwin's short story, "The fight" at
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/HNS/Yoeman/fight.html

We'll spend about 1/3 of this class period discussing The Birth of a Nation. I will pass out instructions for your reaction paper, which will be due on Thursday the 22^nd. (No class on Tuesday the 20th)