Brief Summary: The Institution Of Slavery

There are a variety of strong feelings that accompany the word “slavery”, whether it be feelings of anger, reflection, or acceptance of what has happened in the past. Historians have reviewed many sources, some from former slaves, slave masters, northerners etc. Yet there is still no picture painted clearly enough to give us a perfect view of the past. However, there are still various stories of how slavery was for all parties involved, all of which could be used to prove the institution of slavery was one of bloodshed, pain, and defiance. Former president Andrew Jackson is a prime example of a proud slave owner. He believed himself to be kind and humane to his hundreds of slaves, feeding and clothing them, forgetting that when it came to …show more content…
Charity Bowery is an additional former slave who claims that her “master was very kind to his slaves.” (Hollitz Pg.240) Her master didn 't allow his overseers to distribute punishments to his slaves, unlike most slaveowners in the South. Even though Bowery’s master had a kind heart, his wife had other plans for her. The mistress kept children separated from the mothers and sold them off to the highest bidder. This helps one see that even in the most desirable of living situations, something always kept them from being ideal. Possibly the most famous former slave and African-American leader was Mr.Frederick Douglass. After the abolition of slavery, Frederick Douglass gave a speech on the Fourth of July addressing what the holiday meant for all races. “What have I or those I represent to do with your national independence?” Douglass starts off. The whole speech meant to not so politely call out the hypocrisy of American Slavery. He even admits that due to the misinterpreted, biased stories that emit from this time of tragedy that “America is false to the past, false to the present, and solemnly binds herself to be false to the