Slave By:Joshua Jung, Jamie Prince, Raymond

Zhao, Alex Flynn

Southerners and Slavery1. Slave population increased from 500,000 to

nearly 4 million between 1790 and 1860 due to increase of cotton plantation.

2. Most southerners were for slavery while few were against it.

3. Slaveholders often considered themselves “helping the slave” by raising them.

Supervising1. Slaveholders: On small farms slaveholders could

would supervise the slaves directly.2. Overseers: Usually worked on large farms or

plantations to watch slaves. Could be very brutal.

3. Drivers: Assistants picked among the slaves by overseers to get the work done better. Drivers were in a rough spot between being on the other slaves side or the owners side.

Slave Labor1. 75% of slaves worked on farms or plantations.2. During harvest season many slaves worked 18-

20 hour days.3. “Begin work when they can see, and quit work

when they can’t see,” - former slave Peter Clinton.

4. Slaves working in organized crews for specific tasks was called gang labor.

Slave Life1. Many slaves were treated differently and worked

differently.o This depended on the plantation owners

2. Their lives depended on where they workedo Slaves used in the plantation owners house often lived

a little better than the slaves that worked in the fields.3. The one thing that unified the slaves however,they had

little to no say in what happened to their families or themselves.

Housing 1. Slaves lived on small cramped quarters. A family might live in a

one room log cabin.● The only comfort and furniture would be a fireplace1. These cabins were horribly furnished and also there were many

cracks.● The cracks were from gaps between logs and also from

uncovered openings used as doors and windows.1. In these homes an observer noted,"the wind and rain would come

in and the smoke will not go out."

Diet1. Food was rationed on the plantations.2. A former slave by the the name of, Ben Horry recalled that on

saturdays rations of meat, rice, grit, and meals were handed out.o These shares were never enough to last the week.

3. Due to the lack of food, slaves often made small gardens to plant small vegetables such as greens or sweet potatoes.o Slaves also hunted and fished at night or on sundays.o Slaves also stole food when they were desperate.

Treatment of slaves1. How slaves were treated depended on the plantation they

lived on.2. Some plantations controlled the slaves by giving rewards

to the slaves that worked hardest. This also made sure the slaves were obedient. o Some rewards were promise of money, extra food or

clothing and easier tasks etc.3. However other plantations used force to control the slaves.

o The most common punishment was the whipping.o If these punishments did not work slaves were sold and

most were separated from their families.

Slave Culture1. Slaves were generally controlled from sunrise to

sunset. That being said, they could devote their time to the community and culture in dusk.

2. Cultures were blended together, with American and African cultures becoming mixed.

3. Since slaves were often regulated, they would go into the woods as soon as it got dark.

Family Bonds1. Slaves often had a hard time keeping families

together. Slave owners often traded and auctioned, so the risk of having a member sold is high.

2. Many slaves attempted to stay in contact by running away, or by writing letters.

Oral History, Folktales1. Because slaves were not permitted to read,the

main way of communication was by voice. Slaves would pass down stories of ancestors by verbal communication.

2. Folktales created by slaves explained stories of

how the weak outsmart the strong, such as Anansi the Spider, or Brer the Rabbit. These stories allowed the slaves to have hope and reverse (In their imaginations) their harsh realities.

Humor, Music and Art1. Slaves used humor to boost moral, and bring hope.

Unfortunately, the slave owners often took it as if the slaves enjoyed their current position.

2. Music was very important, and allowed slaves to escape the pain of their lives. Typically played during the evenings, slave music would reflect their daily experience, and criticize white society, and slave bondage.

3. Typical instruments played are the Banjo, Drums, and fiddle.

4. Slaves would also express themselves through the creation of wood carvings, and pottery. Baskets were also woven using the techniques of their ancestors.

Religion1. Slaves believed they were God’s chosen people, and were

thought to be promised land in the afterlife, not just heaven, but a world without slavery. Most were Christians with african elements.

2. White southerners largely censored african ministers, but this did not stop gathering in the woods at night. Slaves became well adapt to muting themselves, so to not allow anyone detect them chanting in the middle of the night.

3. Slaves sang songs known as spirituals, who were largely rich in biblical lore. They expressed the slaves deep longing for freedom. Such songs include “Go down, Moses” and “Didn’t my lord deliver Daniel.

Rebellion and ResistanceI. The Slaves lacked legal power so they had to use

several strategies to improve their living and working conditions.

II. 1800’s had several small rebellions

Slave RevoltsI. Gabriel Prosser - led uprising near Richmond, Virginia

involving hundreds of slaves.

II. Denmark Vesey - 1822, led revolt in Charleston, South Carolina. Was a free African American, carpenter, and preacher. The plan was discovered before it could be carried out, the slaves were killed, they were trusted and respected by other slaves.

III. Nat Turner - led violent uprisings in Southampton County, Virginia. Was very religious and thought to have said god choose him to free the slaves.A. August 21, small band of slaves killed Turner’s owner

and 60 other whites.

Consequences for the SlavesI. When asked why Turner doesn't plead guilty he replied

“Because I don’t feel guilty.” He was hanged on November 11, 1831.

II. State militia and scared local whites killed one hundred slaves looking for Turner in two months.

III. Stricter slave code was enforced after these rebellions. it became illegal to teach slaves to read and their movement was limited. Some owners took the law into their own hands and inflicted the punishment themselves.

Slave ResistanceI. Violent, organized rebellion was rare.II. The slaves would brake tools, steal property, slow working

speed, and even set fire to barns.III. These methods made owners rule the slaves less strictly, or

they would hire out the slaves.IV. The most tempting form of resistance was to run away

because of an injustice from the slave owner. Sometimes in search of their family.

The Underground RailroadI. Network of white and African American abolitionists who

helped slaves escape into the north or Canada.

II. during the day the slaves would hid in attics or haylofts. At night they were taken by conductors to the next safe house.

III. The Underground Railroad helped thousands of slaves regain their freedom.

Harriet TubmanI. Tubman was a slave who at the age of 15, tried to help

one of her fellow slaves escape. During the incident, Tubman was struck on the head, which will cause her sudden spells of dizziness throughout her life.

II. Tubman later escaped to the North in 1849, who then pursued a lifetime of helping other slaves escape. A bounty of $40,000 dollars was placed on her, but she was never captured.

III. Tubman rescued more than 300 slaves, including her parents. Tubman would create a safe home for her fellow slaves in Auburn New York. She died in 1913, buried with full military honors.

http://www.history.com/shows/mankind-the-story-of-all-of-us/videos/african-slave-tradehttp://www.history.com/topics/black-history/harriet-tubman/videos/harriet-tubman-and-the-underground-railroad