18
Slaves made up much of the East Texas Population
Most slaves did farm work
On large plantations , slaves had specific jobs, with most of the men, women and even children working in the fields.
Work began at daybreak
Slaves ate breakfast in the fields
Men usually did the heaviest work
Lunch was eaten near the work place
Planters expected slaves to pick many pounds of cotton every day
An adult male slave could pick on average 150-200 pounds of cotton per day
Slaves did other farm
and household tasks.
Men built and repaired
fences, dug and
cleaned out ditches
and hauled wood
Women worked as
cooks, laundresses and
seamstresses
By 1850, slaves
made up almost
20% of the
population of Austin,
Galveston and
Houston.
Slaves who lived in
towns did a variety
of jobs.
Men worked as
blacksmiths and
carpenters
Women were cooks,
babysitters or
housekeepers
Slaves helped to build the state’s transportation system, including docks, railroads and warehouses
Some slaveholders hired out slaves to work for others
A few slaves were allowed to keep part of their wages and buy their freedom
Slaves worked 6 days a week, but most had Sunday off.
They spent spare time doing personal chores and tending to their gardens.
Their food and shelter were often poor
Slaves working on plantations often lived in small cabins with crude furniture.
Slaves spent free
time with their
families and friends.
In the evenings they
told stories or played
games
They held dances or
gatherings on
Saturday night.
On Sundays, some slaveholders allowed slaves to attend church
Slaves tried to worship even when it was forbidden.
Urban slaves started the first African American churches in Texas
Music was a huge part of the worship service
Music and religion
were important in
the slave culture.
Slaves sang songs
while working in the
fields
After work they
played banjos or
fiddles
Some slaves were willing to risk their lives to escape slavery.
Because of the likelihood of getting caught, slaves did not run away.
Many slaves feared that they would never see family members again.
Slaveholders
severely punished
those they caught
as a warning to others.
White Texans feared that slaves would rebel.
One of the few planned uprisings took place in Colorado County in 1856.
Slaves acquired guns and were planning to rebel and escape to Mexico
Slaveholders learned of the plan before the rebellion could take place.
Slaves were hung and whipped to death
The Texas
Legislature, which
was dominated by
the state’s planters,
passed pro-slavery
laws.
Slaves could not
own property or
marry.
Encouraging a slave
to flee or hiding a
runaway slave were
serious crimes.
Some Texans supported abolition or an end to slavery.
Some opposed slavery for moral or religious reasons.
Others opposed slavery for political reasons, arguing that it went against the ideals of democracy and freedom.
Many Mexican
Americans and
German Americans
in Texas opposed
slavery.
Elise Waerenskjold, a
Norwegian writer
and journalist spoke
out against slavery.
