The southern states were a society based on a division of classes. White Society and Black Society.
The White society was divided between:
Planters: The rich class that held the majority of the wealth of the southern states with them.
Middle class: Composed mostly by farmers who lived modestly growing cotton and corn.
Poor whites: Did not possess slaves and struggled for a survivor.
The Black Society was divided into:
Free black people: They usually bought they own freedom with money they saved.
Mulattoes: People of mixed breed that had plantations. They had limited rights and had to carry documents that proved they were free, if not they would become bonded laborers again.
Slaves: Tied to their owners usually resided in slave quarters away from their masters home.