They made up 3/4 of whites in the South and did not own land or slaves (American Pageant). They believed the plantation owners were “snobby” and did not participate in the market economy, including the the cotton industry. Most poor whites worked with corn and pigs and searched for low-skill jobs. They could not afford schooling and many were sick from malnutrition and other diseases. This lowered their chances of getting jobs or moving up in their social class. Although they did not own slaves they still supported slavery in hopes of one day being able to get their own land and a slave (American Pageant). Poor whites were closer to slaves in their social class standings. They were known as “rednecks” and “hillbillies”, and some slaves even referred to them as “poor white trash”. However, there was a prejudice against blacks. When a poor white man supported slavery he felt better because he was “above”
They made up 3/4 of whites in the South and did not own land or slaves (American Pageant). They believed the plantation owners were “snobby” and did not participate in the market economy, including the the cotton industry. Most poor whites worked with corn and pigs and searched for low-skill jobs. They could not afford schooling and many were sick from malnutrition and other diseases. This lowered their chances of getting jobs or moving up in their social class. Although they did not own slaves they still supported slavery in hopes of one day being able to get their own land and a slave (American Pageant). Poor whites were closer to slaves in their social class standings. They were known as “rednecks” and “hillbillies”, and some slaves even referred to them as “poor white trash”. However, there was a prejudice against blacks. When a poor white man supported slavery he felt better because he was “above”