Distinguish among the major groups within southern white society and explain why each group was committed to the continuation and expansion of slavery.

The owners were the top 4%, they owned twenty or more slaves and had duels. The overseers were next, this was an easier job than the actual work and was an ideal position for slaves, similar to a supervisory position. The last group was the poor. They were still higher on the totem pole than blacks, and they focused their work mainly on farming corn or cotton and raised chickens an pigs.