Did you know our founding father thrived on the fruits of slave labor during the Colonial Era? Our founding fathers who formed a free country based on individual liberty and freedom were also slave owners. “How could they write such fiery and inspiring messages of liberty in one hand while wielding a slave-driving whip in the other?” Thomas Jefferson, one of the originators of the Declaration of Independence, stated, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” However, he benefitted from the labor of hundreds of slaves at Monticello. Slavery was the practice or system of owning slaves. Slavery originated during the Colonial era. Slaves labor was a necessary evil that helped the economic growth of the U.S. The
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Slavery slowly entrenched the colonies between 1619 and 1707 (History.com: Foundations of Slavery in America pg. 2). Though it is impossible to have an accurate figure, historians have estimated that six to seven million slaves were imported to the new world, taking away the African continent’s healthiest and ablest men and woman (document website). Rice and tobacco planters in American colonies turned to African slaves because Africans were more vulnerable to enslavement than white servants and Indians (Schweikart and Allen pg.45). English colonists convinced themselves that Africans were not really human beings, but they were property. Great men of our nations such as George Washington, Jefferson, and Madison believed slavery was a “necessary that everyone depends upon even though they were not proud of the enslavement of human beings evil” (Schweikart and Allen pg. 47). These men believed that slavery would someday end but often times they would delay confronting the issue of slavery in hope that it would just go away. Although by1676, a widespread legalized slavery increased in states such as Maryland, Virginian, and the Carolinas. Within thirty years, slavery was established as an economic organization throughout the south and a very small amount in the northern American colonies. By mid-1700’s Americans imported approximately seven thousand slaves …show more content…
Slaver owners punished slaves through whipping, shackling, hanging, beating, burning, abuse, branding, and imprisonment. Slaves were punished most often because of disobedience, but sometimes abuse was used simply to reaffirm the dominance of the master. Women endured sexual abuse. This act was simply rooted in the southern culture. Slave masters of the south believe that black women were just property and they could do whatever they pleased to them. Laws in slaveholding states left slaves without any defense. The law let their masters abuse them in any way they pleased. (Bondless U.S. History.com: General characteristics of Slavery pg. 4) In 1850, a publication provided guidance to slave owners on how to produce the “Ideal slave.” There were five steps: Maintain strict discipline and unconditional submission. Create a sense of personal lowliness, so slave “know their place”. Instill fear in the minds of slaves. Teach the servants to take interest in the master’s enterprise. Lastly, ensure that slaves are uneducated, helpless, and dependent by depriving them of access to education. These 5 steps helped slave masters’ control and corrupt slaves for years. In addition, masters believed that they had to keep the slaves body strong, but their mind weak. This practice made slaves believe that they would not amount to anything and the only thing they were good for was handling hard
Slavery slowly entrenched the colonies between 1619 and 1707 (History.com: Foundations of Slavery in America pg. 2). Though it is impossible to have an accurate figure, historians have estimated that six to seven million slaves were imported to the new world, taking away the African continent’s healthiest and ablest men and woman (document website). Rice and tobacco planters in American colonies turned to African slaves because Africans were more vulnerable to enslavement than white servants and Indians (Schweikart and Allen pg.45). English colonists convinced themselves that Africans were not really human beings, but they were property. Great men of our nations such as George Washington, Jefferson, and Madison believed slavery was a “necessary that everyone depends upon even though they were not proud of the enslavement of human beings evil” (Schweikart and Allen pg. 47). These men believed that slavery would someday end but often times they would delay confronting the issue of slavery in hope that it would just go away. Although by1676, a widespread legalized slavery increased in states such as Maryland, Virginian, and the Carolinas. Within thirty years, slavery was established as an economic organization throughout the south and a very small amount in the northern American colonies. By mid-1700’s Americans imported approximately seven thousand slaves …show more content…
Slaver owners punished slaves through whipping, shackling, hanging, beating, burning, abuse, branding, and imprisonment. Slaves were punished most often because of disobedience, but sometimes abuse was used simply to reaffirm the dominance of the master. Women endured sexual abuse. This act was simply rooted in the southern culture. Slave masters of the south believe that black women were just property and they could do whatever they pleased to them. Laws in slaveholding states left slaves without any defense. The law let their masters abuse them in any way they pleased. (Bondless U.S. History.com: General characteristics of Slavery pg. 4) In 1850, a publication provided guidance to slave owners on how to produce the “Ideal slave.” There were five steps: Maintain strict discipline and unconditional submission. Create a sense of personal lowliness, so slave “know their place”. Instill fear in the minds of slaves. Teach the servants to take interest in the master’s enterprise. Lastly, ensure that slaves are uneducated, helpless, and dependent by depriving them of access to education. These 5 steps helped slave masters’ control and corrupt slaves for years. In addition, masters believed that they had to keep the slaves body strong, but their mind weak. This practice made slaves believe that they would not amount to anything and the only thing they were good for was handling hard