Slavery
Slaves suffered within a system characterized by undernourishment, overwork, harsh punishment, ill health, and despair. The existence of slavery posed significant problems for a world in which talk of rights and liberties were increasingly popularized (Lucy, 2013). Slavery divested the lives of many African Americans who were sold and toiled in bondage for many years.
The Start of Slavery Slavery began when the first African American slaves were brought to Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619. Hundreds and thousands of African Americans were packed into a ship crowded with other slaves. They contracted diseases easily and morality was high. Slaves were thought of as movable property and labor workers. Most slaves endured a crushing workload, …show more content…
As property, many African Americans were taken from their homes and were never returned. They were sold and became slaves. Slaves were purchased to work on plantations and they were required to perform jobs specified by their masters. Slaves that were rebellious were punished by their masters. Heavy iron rings were placed on the ankle of slaves who ran away or iron rings were placed around their necks. Slaves could not claim self-defense against a white person because complaints were not accepted and no action was registered. Laws were used to immobilize slaves, preventing them from declaring any civil or natural rights against their master or any other master. Young slave boys and girls were put to work at early ages. Boys were more likely to be moved to a higher job category than girls. Their jobs changed as they grew older. Young slaves did not want to commit to marriage, as they often moved or were sold to different plantations in different regions. Mostly women disliked marriage because it required work and they felt it was unnecessary as they were loaded with slave labor. Children were born out of wedlock and were seen by their parents as a form of security. Some slave women labor included satisfying their owners sexually. A male partner would not complain if his wife was used for sexual pleasures because such complaint would result in severe punishment. As in hunger, sometimes planters allowed slaves to chew ripe sugar canes and drink the juice. After the harvest of sugar cane and with little or no food, slaves became ill and died. The chances women would survive depended upon the type of work they did. Women who were house servants were more prone to survive than those who worked in the field. Chances of survival for male slaves depended on how much work they had to perform on their masters’ estate (Sawh, 2006). For the enslaved
Slaves suffered within a system characterized by undernourishment, overwork, harsh punishment, ill health, and despair. The existence of slavery posed significant problems for a world in which talk of rights and liberties were increasingly popularized (Lucy, 2013). Slavery divested the lives of many African Americans who were sold and toiled in bondage for many years.
The Start of Slavery Slavery began when the first African American slaves were brought to Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619. Hundreds and thousands of African Americans were packed into a ship crowded with other slaves. They contracted diseases easily and morality was high. Slaves were thought of as movable property and labor workers. Most slaves endured a crushing workload, …show more content…
As property, many African Americans were taken from their homes and were never returned. They were sold and became slaves. Slaves were purchased to work on plantations and they were required to perform jobs specified by their masters. Slaves that were rebellious were punished by their masters. Heavy iron rings were placed on the ankle of slaves who ran away or iron rings were placed around their necks. Slaves could not claim self-defense against a white person because complaints were not accepted and no action was registered. Laws were used to immobilize slaves, preventing them from declaring any civil or natural rights against their master or any other master. Young slave boys and girls were put to work at early ages. Boys were more likely to be moved to a higher job category than girls. Their jobs changed as they grew older. Young slaves did not want to commit to marriage, as they often moved or were sold to different plantations in different regions. Mostly women disliked marriage because it required work and they felt it was unnecessary as they were loaded with slave labor. Children were born out of wedlock and were seen by their parents as a form of security. Some slave women labor included satisfying their owners sexually. A male partner would not complain if his wife was used for sexual pleasures because such complaint would result in severe punishment. As in hunger, sometimes planters allowed slaves to chew ripe sugar canes and drink the juice. After the harvest of sugar cane and with little or no food, slaves became ill and died. The chances women would survive depended upon the type of work they did. Women who were house servants were more prone to survive than those who worked in the field. Chances of survival for male slaves depended on how much work they had to perform on their masters’ estate (Sawh, 2006). For the enslaved