Existing comment:
Plain Folk:
Population of South Carolina in 1850: 231,218 or 34.50%
Most whites in South Carolina were plain folk: farmers, who owned some land and maybe a few slaves; artisans and shopkeepers; and poor whites, who usually owned no property. The plain folk and planters had close contact with each other and were often related.
The plain folk were self-sufficient. They supported themselves by hunting, fishing, and subsistence farming. Most also raised small cash crops of cotton. They did all the various chores on the farm, working side-by-side with their slaves or hired help. Poor whites often "got by" by living off the land or by working for their more prosperous neighbors.
The homes of plain folk were simple and functional. They lived in log cabins or houses built with rough-hewn boards, Their homes usually had one to four rooms. The roof projected out over a large open porch. The whole cabin was raised on four corner posts, 2 or 3 feet from the ground, to allow air to circulate under it. A fireplace with a detached chimney was built at one end of the house for heating and cooking.
Most plain folk had little education. Farm children usually went to nearby "field schools" only a few months a year. Their parents needed them to help on the farm and often could not afford the school fees.
The church had an important role in the lives of plain folk. Most were Methodists, Presbyterians, or Baptists, and the churches has a strong influence on the community.
Picnics, singings, quiltings, and church activities were popular forms of entertainment. Times of mutual assistance, such as house raisings, log rollings, or corn shuckings, were also social events. |