In the Antebellum South, a wedding ceremony was a versatile event for a married couple. In the sense, that the ceremony could be simple to extravagant and it could just be a celebration declaring the couple’s commitment to spend life together or be used as a bonding agent for the newlyweds and the community. Many Antebellum couples married in their hometown and lived together in their community for the rest of their lives. To the people of the South, “localism and pride were major components”(Boles) of their society, because of the traditions they carried and the way they lived their lives. So, a wedding didn’t just symbolize the unity of two person, it was an event which united and strengthened the entire community. Furthermore, when a woman
In “Antebellum Southern Exceptionalism: A New Look at an Old Question” James McPherson argues that the North and the South are two very different parts of the country in which have different ideologies, interests, and values. Mcpherson writes this to show the differences between the north and the south. He gives perspectives from other historians to show how the differently the differences were viewed. These differences included the north being more industrialized while the south was more agricultural. He gives evidence to how the differences between the north and south came together as the south produced tobacoo, rice, sugar and cotton, which was then sent to the north to be made into clothing or other fabrics. Mcpherson analyzes the differences
Bound in Wedlock is one of the first books written about African American marriage in the nineteenth century. In her book she uses actual legal documents, plantation records, and pension files as her sources in this book. Hunter goes into detail about the hardships of being black and married during the times of slavery. She explains how even the free slaves’ had a difficult time with being
the country to its monetary struggle. As ensued as tenth successor of the country, John Tyler lacked in securing a more adept union and was incapable of possessing an accomplished presidency. He continually declined to nationally accommodate to Congress’s political positions, by vetoing the establishment of the national bank with branches in various states. This sparked a reprisal among the Whigs who expelled John Tyler from their party, as well as compelled his entire cabinet to resign. This added further perspective as to why it was vital for there to be a relationship between Congress and the President of the United States; as it tends to affects our Nation’s well being.
During the Antebellum Era, slavery was about one-third of the South’s population. The Antebellum Era was the period before the Civil War broke out. The South’s economy was booming which was credited to slavery. Their argument about slavery was that slaves were necessary and important to their economy. It would kill their economy if they got rid of slavery. Slavery was the foundation of their economy. Without any slaves, cotton would not be able to be produce. Nearly 60 % of their exports was cotton. Southerners would also point out that slaves were better working in plantations than working in a northern factory. According to them, the North had bad workplaces and long hours. They insisted that slaves were cared for and helped when they needed it unlike the North. However, slaves were still treated bad in the South. They would resist slavery in a variety of ways. For example, running away was one form of resistance. The most common form of resistance was known as “day-to-day” resistance which were
In the short story, “A Ghetto Wedding,” written by Abraham Cahan, the readers are introduced to the lives of Goldy and Nathan, a poor Jewish couple that struggles with economic hardship and financing their upcoming wedding. As the story opens, readers are witnessing Nathan singing and working hard on the streets as a peddler, in hopes of gaining extra cash for the wedding that Goldy desperately desires. However, her dream of a wedding is not one rooted in pure joy and innocence, as one gets an insight into her character. When Goldy unexpectedly meets Nathan while he is peddling, she envisions him being the only peddler on the street, and further says, “wouldn’t you [Nathan] make heaps of money then?” (Cahan, 281). This specific quote automatically
“If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the new stand side by side...when the glories of the old can be compensated by the rich possibilities of the new era? This time...is a very good one.”
A marriage in the 19th century had many different expectations than it does today. Most marriages, especially for the upper class, were conducted as an exchange of assets and used for public display. Hendrik Hartog in his lecture titled, "Marital Expectations in Nineteenth Century America," writes, "At least until the middle years of the nineteenth century being married meant subjecting oneself to a known and coercive public relationship," (96). It was an agreement that publicly cha...
The lives of men and women, women more than men, have changed a lot of the past couple years even decades and more than that. The interconnection of race and gender in the evolving social hierarchy of the early South, Colonial North Carolina, has changed. In Colonial North Carolina the main difference was on how the ways of “ordinary people” interacted with different genders and how race was different between the people of North Carolina. Peoples’ beliefs were the main thing that changed these views, but sometimes it reflected on political beliefs also. Between men and women sex was seen differently. Men and women’s views on sex were far from similar and this has affected their views on race and their views on each other. Views on sex has been
Growing up with different social circumstances, attending social mixers was an enlightening experience and once she made the move to Memphis, she gained a continual stream of suitors that accompanied her to such events. New opportunities emerged for Ida, giving her a sense of what life was like being a bachelorette in a land among woman seeking to marry. As an attractive, un-married woman in her mid twenties with an active social life she often generated suspicion and talk. Although Ida struck flings with many persistent suitors, her feelings have never been entirely clear in whom she ever truly loved. It was evident that she was not romanticized by the concept of marriage like many women were at the time.
Saulny, S. Black and White and Married in the Deep South: A Shifting Image. 2011. Class
When Africans were brought to America during slavery they were forced to give up most of their heritage and were usually separated from their families. This common occurrence usually brought about tremendous pain and grief to the slaves. “West Africa family systems were severely repressed throughout the New World (Guttmann, 1976)”. Some slaves tried to continue practices, such as polygamy, that were a part of traditional African cultures but were unsuccessful. However, they were successful in continuing the traditional African emphasis on the extended family. In the extended family, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents played important roles. Slaves weren’t allowed to marry, but they didn’t let that stop them, they created their own marriages. And through all the hardships they had placed on them, they developed strong emotional bonds and family ties. The slaves discouraged casual sexual relationships and placed a lot emphasis on marriage and stability. To maintain some family identity, parents named their children after themselves or other relatives or sometimes gave them African names.
The subject of identity is a very complex one as it encompasses the totality of social experience, much of which is influenced by history. What constitutes as the identity of an individual is not always easy to determine, given the differences in ways individuals are socialized during the course of their lives: as members of different families, neighborhoods, villages, municipalities, professions, social interest groups or religions. Yet, each of these social groups contains a hierarchal structure, particularly those groups that fall into the southern region. Even today, to be born a Southern woman is to be made aware of class distinction, and with it, the rules and expectations. Particularly in the early South, these rules varied some, but all followed the same basic template, which was, fundamentally, that no matter what the circumstance, Southern women were identified through their heritage. Defining one’s heritage requires a range of historical investigation from surnames, and events associated with such, to societal rank and income. However, surnames and societal rank originate from a common source – males. Men provide the surnames. Men are traditionally the primary source of income, which determines one’s rank in society. Therefore, Southern women were ultimately forced to identify themselves by the males to which they were tied. With that being said, what will come of a Southern woman who has no male to provide her with the necessary means by which she may identify herself? More specifically, is identity truly attainable? According to the customs of the old South, the woman should be unable to function on her own in society. Yet, it is this writer’s belief that there is a chance for t...
The jostling interests that presented themselves between the political parties on the debate over slavery during the Antebellum Period (approximately between 1820-1860), led to “A Nation Divided” and ultimately to the Civil War in the United States.
Wedding has one meaning in every culture but it is practiced very differently. Most of the American customs and traditions have been taken from different cultures, primarily European since the United states was
Ingraham’s argument is not the first to center the theme that the white wedding is a too expensive and lavish celebration, resulting in a sense of vanity. Ingraham constantly shares her important idea on how Anglo-American white weddings are performances and how they serve the purpose of “putting on a show” for others. For those of the past and present who have