Like a Grt Feudal Landlord

The Southern Greek Revival plantation house is one which has drawn attention in history and fiction. Yet, the symbolism and meaning of these homes is often overlooked. Greek Revival architecture had a particular appeal to many Upcountry planters as it represented a renewal of the ideals embodied by the ancient Greeks, who firmly adhered to a division of society as well as the need for and use of slavery. Additionally, the Upcountry cotton planter of the nineteenth century sought to differentiate himself from the planters of the previous generation, who used the Federal style of architecture. With the prosperity generated from cotton, the Upcountry planters from Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina saw in their Greek Revival plantation house a lasting legacy to their power and societal status. The muted voices of the slaves who enabled the planters to live in these homes are articulated here, as well as the exploration of the dramatic changes brought about by the Civil War.