Comparing Factory Life To Slavery Dbq

Slaves were punished outrageously for doing everyday tasks such as reading, writing, or attempting to leave their property. Yet, southern slaveholders argue against all points made against them to attempt to persuade and protect their economy. Southern slaveholders argued that slave life was far better than factory work in the north by stating slaves hardly worked and had many breaks. They also stated that the northern factory workers were mistreated and worked in harsh conditions. The majority of the depictions and facts stated by the southern slaveholders are false and is unjustified for comparing factory life to slavery.
George Fitzhugh, a southern writer who supported slavery of blacks and poor whites, stated “The negro slaves of the south are the happiest, and, in some sense, the freest people in the world… The negro men and stout boys work, on the average, in good weather, not more than nine hours a day” (Source 2). This statement describes a slave’s life as a luxurious and easy life in and out of work. This statement of slaves working easy and worry-free lives in and out of work seems too good to be true. Fitzhugh’s statement is conflicting with Solomon Northrop, a free African American who was free and …show more content…
(Source 7). This means that slaves can’t meet at any time in the night for any reason except disclosed by the master of the slaves. This conflicts with what southern slaveholders say about how good a slave’s life is. This proves that southern slaveholders were unjust in describing a slave’s life as a good and leisureful life because a slave’s freedom is limited under the South Carolina Slave