- Southern plantation life is the story of a system of production. From the first, the region depended on the cultivation of crops for sale. Tobacco and rice in the 18th Century, and "King Cotton" in the 19th set the pace for the region's economy. Each of these crops demanded an enormous supply of cheap labor. Faced with a shortage of workers, plantation owners imported vast numbers of slaves. The slave became the distinguishing feature of plantation life.
- Slavery produced sharp divisions in Southern life. The culture of the "big house" was aristocratic. Many slave owners cultivated a life of luxury and refinement. Slaves, in contrast, were condemned to a life of toil. They were forbidden to read or write. Worse still, they were condemned by the color of their skin. Basic human and civil rights were denied to black people. Only blacks were enslaved.
- Southern plantation life varied according to setting. Some plantations were vast estates. Their owners lived much like English lords. Life was a seemingly endless round of parties and hunts, a delightful parade of fine food and fine clothes. Smaller plantations were more like ordinary farms. Their owners bridged the gap between the wealthy planters and the poor whites. Many owned only a small number of slaves. They lived simply and enjoyed relatively little influence in state and local affairs.
- Distinctions of color and class produced lasting effects. The hierarchical arrangement of society made each group look down on the one next below. Each was determined to preserve its place in the order of things. When freedom came, blacks were denied basic rights. Government continued to be dominated by the wealthy and strong. Discriminatory laws perpetuated the prejudices of slavery.
- While it played a major role in shaping the region, Southern plantation life was not universal. Many areas lacked significant populations of slaves. Small farms predominated. The lives of most Southerners revolved around family and church. They were simple people struggling to survive. The large plantation may have been a dream, but it was not the reality.
