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Use the document to list at least 4-5 characteristics from each time period about how life was for Southern planters. Before the War During the War After the War

Use the document to list at least 4-5 characteristics from each time period about how life was for Southern planters. Before the War During the War After the War

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Directions: Use the document to list at least 4-5 characteristics from each time period about how life was for Southern planters.



Before the War

During the War

After the War
     
     
     
     
     
By 1864, Louisiana's sugar industry was all but devastated. Few planters sought to make a crop that year. Many planned to grind their seed cane, abandoning the sugar culture entirely, although Zeringue had plans to rebuild his business and try again. Greatly disturbed by the decline of the sugar industry and by some of the planters' plan to mill their seed cane, General Nathaniel P Banks ordered all sugar planters to reserve one fourth of their 1864 crop for seed. This order further decreased the amount of sugar produced. Cuban sugar had to be shipped in to meet the demand in New Orleans. Many sugar planters turned to other crops, especially cotton and rice, as the processes involved in producing these crops were less labor intensive and required less capital. Vegetable cultivation also increased on sugar plantations." After the War Camille Zeringue, along with many of his fellow planters, suffered great financial losses during the war. In 1866, authorities seized and auctioned off much of his property, including "cane knives (used in harvesting sugar cane), a cotton gin and cotton press, a corn mill, a mowing machine, 32 stacks of rice in sacks, 200 barrels of threshed rice in sacks, a saw mill, hogs, cows, a bull, mules, oxen, chickens and pigeons, horses, plows, carts and tools." The great variety of machinery and animals auctioned gives a glimpse into the variety of crops and livestock that Zeringue raised and harvested at his plantation. In addition to these losses, many planters also found that much of their livestock, including horses and mules, was taken into the custody of the Union forces. The impressment of livestock, including horses and mules, by Union forces was a blow that nearly all planters felt. Planters, like Zeringue, also found northern soldiers were not hospitable guests on their estates. Rowdy young Union men were anxious to seek revenge upon wealthy southern planters and caused incalculable damage on plantations across the South. Looting and vandalism were common." The war had ravaged Zeringue and other planters throughout the South. Reconstruction brought with it a new beginning for these planters, who started over humbly, with their businesses and their lives. One of the major problems stillfaced by Zeringue and his fellow planters was a shortage of labor. No longer were these businessmen able to rely on the institution of slavery to provide the large amount of physical labor needed to run a plantation. Interestingly, many of the emancipated slaves continued to live on Zeringue's plantation, but no longer were these laborers the property of their master. They were now employees, a fact that would change the dynamics of plantation life and society. Research shows that in the sugar parishes, freed blacks often continued working on the plantation, cultivating cane and producing sugar. They actively and wholeheartedly negotiated for fair pay and better working conditions in exchange for their labor, a commodity that was crucial on the plantation. Often these negotiations led to strife, but in some instances they functioned to create a mutually beneficial working environment. Regardless, the new labor system obliterated the economic system associated with sugar planting before the war. This often led to devastation for former slave-owning sugar planters. Zeringue's daughters noted that it was the emancipation of the slaves that ultimately led to the plantation's ruin, and they were probably correct in this observation.
Transcribed Image Text:By 1864, Louisiana's sugar industry was all but devastated. Few planters sought to make a crop that year. Many planned to grind their seed cane, abandoning the sugar culture entirely, although Zeringue had plans to rebuild his business and try again. Greatly disturbed by the decline of the sugar industry and by some of the planters' plan to mill their seed cane, General Nathaniel P Banks ordered all sugar planters to reserve one fourth of their 1864 crop for seed. This order further decreased the amount of sugar produced. Cuban sugar had to be shipped in to meet the demand in New Orleans. Many sugar planters turned to other crops, especially cotton and rice, as the processes involved in producing these crops were less labor intensive and required less capital. Vegetable cultivation also increased on sugar plantations." After the War Camille Zeringue, along with many of his fellow planters, suffered great financial losses during the war. In 1866, authorities seized and auctioned off much of his property, including "cane knives (used in harvesting sugar cane), a cotton gin and cotton press, a corn mill, a mowing machine, 32 stacks of rice in sacks, 200 barrels of threshed rice in sacks, a saw mill, hogs, cows, a bull, mules, oxen, chickens and pigeons, horses, plows, carts and tools." The great variety of machinery and animals auctioned gives a glimpse into the variety of crops and livestock that Zeringue raised and harvested at his plantation. In addition to these losses, many planters also found that much of their livestock, including horses and mules, was taken into the custody of the Union forces. The impressment of livestock, including horses and mules, by Union forces was a blow that nearly all planters felt. Planters, like Zeringue, also found northern soldiers were not hospitable guests on their estates. Rowdy young Union men were anxious to seek revenge upon wealthy southern planters and caused incalculable damage on plantations across the South. Looting and vandalism were common." The war had ravaged Zeringue and other planters throughout the South. Reconstruction brought with it a new beginning for these planters, who started over humbly, with their businesses and their lives. One of the major problems stillfaced by Zeringue and his fellow planters was a shortage of labor. No longer were these businessmen able to rely on the institution of slavery to provide the large amount of physical labor needed to run a plantation. Interestingly, many of the emancipated slaves continued to live on Zeringue's plantation, but no longer were these laborers the property of their master. They were now employees, a fact that would change the dynamics of plantation life and society. Research shows that in the sugar parishes, freed blacks often continued working on the plantation, cultivating cane and producing sugar. They actively and wholeheartedly negotiated for fair pay and better working conditions in exchange for their labor, a commodity that was crucial on the plantation. Often these negotiations led to strife, but in some instances they functioned to create a mutually beneficial working environment. Regardless, the new labor system obliterated the economic system associated with sugar planting before the war. This often led to devastation for former slave-owning sugar planters. Zeringue's daughters noted that it was the emancipation of the slaves that ultimately led to the plantation's ruin, and they were probably correct in this observation.
Adapted from Lost Plantation: The Rise and Fall of Seven Oaks By Marc R. Matrana Before the War Surrounded by vast fields of sugarcane and cotton, Camille Zeringue and his wife, Madelein Lise Roman, raised their children in the great mansion on their plantation. The 1850's census of Jefferson Parish lists Camille Zeringue, age fifty-nine, occupation "planter," and his wife, Lise, age forty. At this time, the value of real estate owned by Zeringue was listed at $80,000 (an amount equal to about $1.6 million in the year 2000). The Zeringues are said to have had eight children." Seven are listed in the census of 1850: three sons, Michael, age eighteen; Fortuné, age fourteen; and Edmond, age ten; and four daughters, Camille, age sixteen; Adeline, age twelve; Lise, age eight; and Celeste, age five." The Zeringues led a life of great splendor and privilege provided partly by the forced labor of enslaved individuals, and, in 1861, when Louisiana withdrew from the union, the family took up the cause for southern sovereignty. As a business owner who relied on slavery for the prosperity of his plantation, Zeringue willingly helped finance the Confederate cause. During this time, many planters made large personal financial contributions toward the war. Planters like Zeringue believed strongly in southern independence, and sentiment was strong that the South would prevail in any military conflicts with northern states. So strong was this belief that planters invested much. They rallied troops, and the planter-led police juries allocated funds for military purposes. An elite cavalry unit known as the Jefferson Rangers received funding of one thousand dollars from the Jefferson Parish Police Jury." During the War Most planters felt optimistic about the sugar market during secession, never fully realizing that war would have a major effect on their ability to sell and transport their crop. It wasn't until the Union Navy seized the Gulf of Mexico and blocked the mouth of the Mississippi that planters realized their problems. With the mouth of the river impenetrable, there was virtually no way for planters to get their large crops to market. The price of sugar plummeted, whereas the cost of food and other necessities increased. Louisiana sugar planters "white gold" was quickly turning to worthless "white dust." Camille Zeringue, along with sugar planters throughout the state, now felt the economic hardships of war, making it difficult, if not impossible, to feed and clothe their own slaves. Soon, the pleasantries of socializing were distant memories as the war itself was no longer a vague idea; it had become a blatant reality as violence descended on the Zeringue plantation. The union forces marched through the vast cane fields toward the Confederate encampment along the canal. Fighting in the sugarcane fields of southeastern Louisiana differed vastly from combat elsewhere. The rugged terrain of the fields made for a difficult time regardless of what side one fought for." It was not uncommon for the women on the plantation to witness the violent and unsightly acts of battle. One of Zeringue's daughters said that as Federals invaded the plantation and overtook the Confederate troops, she and her sisters and mother fled to New Orleans to seek refuge." Union domination was only further substantiated when on January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln presented his Emancipation Proclamation, which ordered all slaves to be set free and sought the abolishment of slavery in America. The following year, a convention elected from the Union element of the state presented a new constitution that required the immediate and unconditional release of all slaves in Louisiana.
Transcribed Image Text:Adapted from Lost Plantation: The Rise and Fall of Seven Oaks By Marc R. Matrana Before the War Surrounded by vast fields of sugarcane and cotton, Camille Zeringue and his wife, Madelein Lise Roman, raised their children in the great mansion on their plantation. The 1850's census of Jefferson Parish lists Camille Zeringue, age fifty-nine, occupation "planter," and his wife, Lise, age forty. At this time, the value of real estate owned by Zeringue was listed at $80,000 (an amount equal to about $1.6 million in the year 2000). The Zeringues are said to have had eight children." Seven are listed in the census of 1850: three sons, Michael, age eighteen; Fortuné, age fourteen; and Edmond, age ten; and four daughters, Camille, age sixteen; Adeline, age twelve; Lise, age eight; and Celeste, age five." The Zeringues led a life of great splendor and privilege provided partly by the forced labor of enslaved individuals, and, in 1861, when Louisiana withdrew from the union, the family took up the cause for southern sovereignty. As a business owner who relied on slavery for the prosperity of his plantation, Zeringue willingly helped finance the Confederate cause. During this time, many planters made large personal financial contributions toward the war. Planters like Zeringue believed strongly in southern independence, and sentiment was strong that the South would prevail in any military conflicts with northern states. So strong was this belief that planters invested much. They rallied troops, and the planter-led police juries allocated funds for military purposes. An elite cavalry unit known as the Jefferson Rangers received funding of one thousand dollars from the Jefferson Parish Police Jury." During the War Most planters felt optimistic about the sugar market during secession, never fully realizing that war would have a major effect on their ability to sell and transport their crop. It wasn't until the Union Navy seized the Gulf of Mexico and blocked the mouth of the Mississippi that planters realized their problems. With the mouth of the river impenetrable, there was virtually no way for planters to get their large crops to market. The price of sugar plummeted, whereas the cost of food and other necessities increased. Louisiana sugar planters "white gold" was quickly turning to worthless "white dust." Camille Zeringue, along with sugar planters throughout the state, now felt the economic hardships of war, making it difficult, if not impossible, to feed and clothe their own slaves. Soon, the pleasantries of socializing were distant memories as the war itself was no longer a vague idea; it had become a blatant reality as violence descended on the Zeringue plantation. The union forces marched through the vast cane fields toward the Confederate encampment along the canal. Fighting in the sugarcane fields of southeastern Louisiana differed vastly from combat elsewhere. The rugged terrain of the fields made for a difficult time regardless of what side one fought for." It was not uncommon for the women on the plantation to witness the violent and unsightly acts of battle. One of Zeringue's daughters said that as Federals invaded the plantation and overtook the Confederate troops, she and her sisters and mother fled to New Orleans to seek refuge." Union domination was only further substantiated when on January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln presented his Emancipation Proclamation, which ordered all slaves to be set free and sought the abolishment of slavery in America. The following year, a convention elected from the Union element of the state presented a new constitution that required the immediate and unconditional release of all slaves in Louisiana.
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