5.3 Slavery and plantation system in antebellum Florida
2 min read•july 25, 2024
The plantation system reshaped Florida's landscape after 1821. American settlers established large farms, growing and other crops. This shift relied heavily on , transforming the economy and society.
Slavery became central to Florida's development, fueling agricultural exports and creating a . Enslaved people faced harsh conditions but preserved cultural traditions. This system's impact on Florida's economy and social structures lasted long after emancipation.
Plantation System and Slavery in Antebellum Florida
Development of plantation system
Top images from around the web for Development of plantation system
File:James Hopkinsons Plantation Slaves Going to Field.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia View original
Is this image relevant?
File:Cotton planter and pickers1908.jpg - Wikimedia Commons View original
Is this image relevant?
Knapp's APUSH WikiShare - ENV-Unit III Info View original
Is this image relevant?
File:James Hopkinsons Plantation Slaves Going to Field.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia View original
Is this image relevant?
File:Cotton planter and pickers1908.jpg - Wikimedia Commons View original
Is this image relevant?
1 of 3
Top images from around the web for Development of plantation system
File:James Hopkinsons Plantation Slaves Going to Field.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia View original
Is this image relevant?
File:Cotton planter and pickers1908.jpg - Wikimedia Commons View original
Is this image relevant?
Knapp's APUSH WikiShare - ENV-Unit III Info View original
Is this image relevant?
File:James Hopkinsons Plantation Slaves Going to Field.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia View original
Is this image relevant?
File:Cotton planter and pickers1908.jpg - Wikimedia Commons View original
Is this image relevant?
1 of 3
replaced Spanish mission system as American settlers arrived after
Key crops cultivated included cotton, , and driving agricultural exports
Plantations concentrated in (between Apalachicola and Suwannee rivers) and along in East Florida
typically exceeded 500 acres managed centrally by owner or overseer
Reliance on enslaved labor fueled economic growth and shaped Florida's development
Slavery's role in Florida economy
Enslaved workforce enabled large-scale bolstering
Labor distribution encompassed field work, domestic duties, and skilled trades (blacksmiths, carpenters)
Created hierarchical society with at apex reinforcing
Influenced and
Florida's smaller than neighboring states due to later U.S. entry
Conditions for enslaved people
Housing consisted of cramped, sparsely furnished
stretched from sunrise to sunset organized by task or
High mortality rates stemmed from disease and inadequate medical care
Constant threat of through sale disrupted family bonds
manifested through work slowdowns, escape attempts (to pre-1821, )
and religions preserved, contributing to unique
Impact of slavery on Florida society
Shaped Florida's push for admitted as in 1845
Reinforced and creating distinct
Influenced (, slave quarters) and religious practices (segregated churches)
regulated enslaved population restricting education and movement