How did yeomen live in the south before 1860?

Answer 1

Before 1860, yeomen in the South were small landowners who primarily relied on subsistence farming and cultivated their own crops, such as corn and tobacco. They typically owned a modest amount of land and, unlike plantation owners, did not depend on enslaved labor, although some might have employed a few enslaved people or hired laborers. Their lifestyle was characterized by hard work and self-sufficiency, often living in simple homes and forming tight-knit communities. Yeomen played a crucial role in the southern economy, providing food and goods for local markets.