Poor White is a sociocultural classification used to describe economically disadvantaged Whites in the English-speaking world, especially White Americans with low incomes.
Portrayals of Poor Whites in U.S. state of Georgia, as illustrated by E. W. Kemble, circa 1891
North Carolina Emigrants: Poor White Folks, by James Henry Beard, 1845, Cincinnati Art Museum
Elvis Presley, an icon of 20th century America, was born into a Poor White family in Tupelo, Mississippi.
Poor White sharecroppers in Alabama, 1936
The Antebellum South era was a period in the history of the Southern United States that extended from the conclusion of the War of 1812 to the start of the American Civil War in 1861. This era was marked by the prevalent practice of slavery and the associated societal norms it cultivated. Over the course of this period, Southern leaders underwent a transformation in their perspective on slavery. Initially regarded as an awkward and temporary institution, it gradually evolved into a defended concept, with proponents arguing for its positive merits, while simultaneously vehemently opposing the burgeoning abolitionist movement.
There were just over 3.2 million slaves in the U.S. in 1850, about 14% of the total population.
