Slavery In American Society

The practice of slavery was a catalyst for American society. The integration of slave trade from Africa left many innocent individuals feeling baffled and bitter about their painful circumstances. But the introduction of slavery was not a change in lifestyle for those coerced into it; this was an occurrence affecting many across the developing nation. Numerous accounts exemplify the adversities of Africans who were compelled to live a lifestyle that accommodated to the common Caucasian man. It was typical for owners to own many plantations with hundreds of negroes, but these negroes would become free men after the Proclamation of 1864. It is a fallacy to believe that slavery was not detrimental to their well-being, as it was one of the most …show more content…
Obedience was the key factor of survival in order to secure themselves and their families. With the arrival of the master and mistress, it was expected for children to be well groomed and clean as they addressed them by saying “How dy Massa and Missie?” More importantly, there is no ambiguity in the fact that the relationship between masters and their slaves were memorable ones, as many appeared to be inhumane towards their slaves. Stroyer had stressed that slaves are identified with the names of their masters, and are obligated to follow a set of regulations. Masters were allowed to whip their slaves at any time, and would even attempt to aggravate slaves to the point where masters would find a reason to punish them. This statement can be supported when Stroyer clarifies how masters have said, “Oh ye think yourself as good as ye master ye-…ye so big ye can’t speak to me ye-…” As a victim of violence by his master himself, Stroyer described under what conditions he had to work. From riding horses, to working in trades he had to work hard at his jobs while being brutally abused with whips. One of the most difficult situations were the events where Stroyer partook in activities of riding horses that masters would have trained for races. Along with passing an examination to qualify and ride, he had to be …show more content…
As previously stated, Stroyer spent some of his time working in the trades industry, although his opportunity to partake in this field of work became problematic. It was clearly stated to the mistress that it was against the law for any negro to obtain an education. Other laws had been formed in South Carolina, but were not conducive for individuals bound to slavery. Provisions like the Fundamental Constitution of Carolina encouraged granting large land grants to prominent Englishmen. Moreover, in response to the inequality and adversity Englishmen were causing, slaves resorted to bondage and legal restrictions by fleeing from plantations, where they would eventually be found by