Final answer:
Southern planters and white yeoman farmers had different views on the role of the federal government in the South. Planters had influence through the presidency and Supreme Court, advocating for policies that protected slavery. White yeoman farmers opposed a strong federal government and preferred limited government interference in the economy.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the South, the federal government was influenced by southern planters who held significant power. Many of the early presidents and Supreme Court justices were from slaveholding states. However, the white yeoman farmers in the South did not support an active federal government and were suspicious of state banks and taxes for internal improvements. They feared a strong national government might interfere with slavery. Therefore, the question of who was really in charge of the government in the South is complex and involves the influence of southern planters and the resistance of white yeoman farmers.
For example, the southern planters had a strong influence on the federal government through their representation in the presidency and the Supreme Court. They advocated for policies that protected and promoted slavery. On the other hand, the white yeoman farmers, who were a majority in the South, did not support a strong federal government. They opposed measures such as taxes for internal improvements and were suspicious of government interference in the economy.