Slavery During the Mid-19th Century, Research Paper Example

Slavery during the mid-19^th century shaped America’s political and economic history significantly. Westward expansion that began in the early 1800s had gained momentum among plantation owners who deemed it appropriate considering the volatility of the cotton market. In contrast, abolitionists’ call for the end of slavery had intensified. While white American’s debated the merits and demerits of slavery, the lives of most slaves exhibited little to no change. In this paper, I show that African American slaves had experienced cruelties at a personal and family level while carrying out designated tasks, leading to fear and frequent rebellions. Despite facing the oppression, the slaves generated a sense of community rooted in their cultural ancestry and religion.

The duties of a slave during the mid-1800s varied depending on their region, age, gender, and skills. Southern America predominantly relied on an agricultural economy, leading to most slaves working on the plantations of their owners (Exploring American Histories, page 357). Regions near the seaport, such as New Orleans, had slaves working as dockworkers or sailors (Exploring American Histories, page 358). Industrialized regions saw slaves offering skilled labor as blacksmiths. Plantation farms were renowned as the primary area one would find many slaves due to the significant reliance of cotton farming on free slave labor. Men and women worked on cotton farms and handled domestic chores that were majorly divided along gender lines (Exploring American Histories, page 357). Women would handle house chores such as cooking dinner, cleaning the house, and ironing the clothes. Men did outdoor tasks such as feeding the animals and cutting the wood. The children of slaves joined the labor force as soon as they turned ten or twelve, assuming similar tasks as adults, though at a slower pace.

Slavery took a heavy toll on most African American slave families. Parents struggled to provide for their children because they relied on their owners for food and shelter. Children did not receive the proper nutrition and healthcare, evident by the high mortality rate among slave infants and children (Exploring American Histories, page 357). Slave owners provided families with small houses with limited furniture and clothing. Parents had to endure the thought that their children would end up working as slaves early (Source 11.6, page 375). Separation of family members was also common, as seen in the movement of over 440,000 slaves between the 1830 and 1850s (Exploring American Histories, page 367). Slave pens also fostered the division of families as buyers would buy different family members (Source 11.8, page 376). It was difficult for African American parents since they could not protect their children.

Fear spread among the African American slaves as they encountered harsh treatment from their owners. A common fear among slaves was the deprivation of resources, especially food (Johnson, 00:09 – 02:19). Constant labor and working under unforgiving climate conditions were also major concerns (Johnson, 00:09 – 02:19). Enslaved women feared the rampant sexual abuse from their masters and the subsequent frustrations of their mistresses (Exploring American Histories, page 356; Source 11.7, page 375). Free African Americans feared being captured and resold into slavery, a common occurrence that reintroduced many former slaves into the oppressive system (Source 11.8, page 376). Consequently, African Americans, whether free or not, lived in constant worry and uncertainty.

Slave owners’ oppressive tactics brewed a conducive environment for rebellion among the slaves. Some slaves used subtle approaches such as slowing the pace of work, feigning illness, or damaging equipment (Exploring American Histories, page 361). Others employed overt tactics such as truancy, running away, and organized uprising. The uprising aroused fear among the whites, leading to brutal retaliation involving whipping and hanging the slaves. Despite the harsh retaliation and pre-existing oppression from the owner, slaves developed a sense of community among themselves. Most slaves shared a West African or Caribbean ancestry (Exploring American Histories, page 360). They developed new cultural practices based on their ancestry and propagated them through music, dance, folktales, dressing, medicinal practices, and courtship rituals (Exploring American Histories, page 361). Others adopted Christianity and developed a sense of community through religion.

Slaves experienced significant hardship during the mid-1800s. Slave owners assigned duties to adults and children as young as ten. The major duties differ depending on the economic activities of the region. Ideally, slaves were involved in any sort in most activities that required free manual labor. Slave parents could not build a sustainable family and protect their children from the brutality since they depended on their masters. Slave owners employed oppressive tactics that brewed fear and ultimately rebellion amongst the slaves. Astonishingly, the slaves developed a sense of community through their shared cultures and religion in the face of adversities.