Ch.

8 The South Study Guide

cotton gin- invented by Eli Whitney; sped up cotton production in the South and helped boost
the Souths economy
bay- part of ocean or lake extending into land
Mardi Gras- celebration held in New Orleans every February before Catholic Ash Wednesday;
also known as Fat Tuesday
US Civil War- the South seceded from the United States over the issue of slavery and formed
the Confederacy; went to war with the North (the Union), which led to the most American
deaths of any way in its history
plantation- a large farm where the planting and harvesting was done by enslaved African
Americans
textile- cloth; and industry was built around it
mining- one of the industries in the South; removing minerals, such as coal, from the ground
hurricane- a severe storm with lots of rain and strong winds
descendant- a persons child, grandchild, great-grandchild, etc.
Everglades- tropical wetlands located in a large part of Florida
hydroelectric power- use of water to make electric power
Trail of Tears- path walked by the Cherokee when they were forced to leave their homes east
of the Mississippi River and move west

Things to Know
the climate in the South is hot during the summer and mild during the winter because it is
close to the equator
African Americans were brought over to the US as enslaved people
Nashville, Tennessee is the city where many country singers go to get their big break