THE ANTEBELLUM ERA IN SOUTH
CAROLINA | COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY
STUDY GUIDE, PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
| GRADED A+ | GUARANTEED SUCCESS
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep
, Antebellum Era The time in South Carolina history leading up to the Civil War, meaning 'before the war'.
Protective Tariff A tax on imports designed to shield American-made goods from cheaper foreign
competition.
Yeoman Farmer A small landowning farmer who made up the majority of the white middle class.
'Cotton is King!' A boast made by Senator James Henry Hammond in 1858, summing up the South's belief
in the vital importance of their cotton and slavery-based economy.
Staple Crops Crops that South Carolina's wealth depended on, primarily rice and cotton.
The Cotton Boom A period when cotton cultivation took over agriculture in the Upcountry due to its
adaptability to various land types.
Boom and Bust Cycle A cycle of economic prosperity peaking in the early 1800s followed by a steep price
drop in the 1820s due to soil depletion and increased supply.
Revitalized Slavery The renewed dedication to slave labor due to the economic importance of cotton, with
the Black population becoming the majority by 1820.
Deferential Society A social structure in South Carolina where people were expected to show respect to
those in higher social classes.
Planter Class Families owning large amounts of land and at least twenty slaves, controlling the state
politically and socially.
CAROLINA | COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY
STUDY GUIDE, PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
| GRADED A+ | GUARANTEED SUCCESS
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep
, Antebellum Era The time in South Carolina history leading up to the Civil War, meaning 'before the war'.
Protective Tariff A tax on imports designed to shield American-made goods from cheaper foreign
competition.
Yeoman Farmer A small landowning farmer who made up the majority of the white middle class.
'Cotton is King!' A boast made by Senator James Henry Hammond in 1858, summing up the South's belief
in the vital importance of their cotton and slavery-based economy.
Staple Crops Crops that South Carolina's wealth depended on, primarily rice and cotton.
The Cotton Boom A period when cotton cultivation took over agriculture in the Upcountry due to its
adaptability to various land types.
Boom and Bust Cycle A cycle of economic prosperity peaking in the early 1800s followed by a steep price
drop in the 1820s due to soil depletion and increased supply.
Revitalized Slavery The renewed dedication to slave labor due to the economic importance of cotton, with
the Black population becoming the majority by 1820.
Deferential Society A social structure in South Carolina where people were expected to show respect to
those in higher social classes.
Planter Class Families owning large amounts of land and at least twenty slaves, controlling the state
politically and socially.
