In the 1800s, many white southerners followed the southern code 1. and as a result free african americans in the north were treated worse than enslaved african americans in the south. 2. because they owned large plantations where they cultivated cotton, which was a major cash crop in the south. 3. because enslaved workers did work that was not considered “ladylike” or “gentlemanly.” 4. and as a result most of them did not have enslaved workers and disagreed with the practice of slavery.