Slavery In The 18th And 19th Century

Slavery was the legal incarceration of humans and existed in the United States of American during the 18th and 19th centuries. British North American had partaken in enslavement from early colonial days and it was legal in all Thirteen Colonies at the time of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Northern states abolished slavery by the end of the 18th century, although some were gradual systems that kept adults slaves for two decades. Because of the creation of the cotton gin and the increased demand for slaves that came with it, the Southern states continued as slave societies. Slaves were deeply rooted in the South’s economy, politics and culture and while the plantation class did all they could to defend it, African Americans fought …show more content…
These southerners saw slavery as a necessary evil, that is they said that they did not like the fact of having slaves, but at the same time there was no way to survive without them. These defenders also argued that slavery had existed throughout history and was the natural state of mankind. In other words, because slaves had been around since colonizing america had begun, the defenders felt that they were just continuing the tradition. Another argument that rose when dealing with slavery, was that supporters believed that by comparison with the poor of Europe and the workers in the Northern states, that slaves were better cared for. They emphasized the idea that owners of these slaves would protect and assist them when they were sick and aged, unlike those who were left to fend for themselves once fired. Although both were terrible lives, slaves were treated better and were able to survive more easily than if they were working in a factory in the …show more content…
Although different strategies were taken, they all had the same fundamental goal, to claim freedom against an institution that defined them as property. Often slaves would resist in the work environment, by slowing work, faking illness, breaking tools or sabotaging production to which there was not much slave masters could do about it. In some cases, ,the enslaved would negotiate basic terms of their daily routines from which slave owners would benefit from with happier slaves would work harder. Another way slaves would resist is theft. Slaves took a number of commodities, such as fruits, vegetables, livestock, tobacco, liquor and money from their masters. Slaves would also show resistance by running away from their masters. In Maryland and Virginia as early as 1640 slaves were escaping their enslavement, which encouraged thousands and eventually tens of thousands by the time of Civil War to do the same. Run aways were a blatant presentation that slaves rejected their servile condition. If caught these slaves faced certain punishments, such as whipping, branding and even severing tot the Achilles tendon. Slaves also participated in organized rebellions through the years 1691 and 1865. At least nine slave revolts took place in what would be the United States, most common being in New York City, Stono, South Carolina, New Orleans