Nate Washburn
Slave Control and Resistance
Slaves were considered property (PBS) They had their one laws called the “Slave
Codes” (PBS)These had rules such as: They could not
testify in court, they could not leave their plantation without permission, or could not strike in self defense (PBS)
Slaves were given minimal food, clothes, and shelter for living and working (Boston)
Treatment of Slaves
Reasons for punishmentSlaves were punished for reasons like not
working fast enough, arriving at the fields late, defying authority, and running away (PBS)
Pain enducing tactics Slaves were
sometimes punished by whippings, torture and mutilation (PBS)
“The lash, cane or raised hand was meant to produce docility in the slave…” (Feblowitz)
Other PunishmentsSlaves were threatened
with being sold
They were also killed for punishment at times
(PBS)
ResistanceSlave Resistance was
present from the start
Slaves resisted for some sort of freedom against the institution that defined people as property
(Sweet)
Resistance in the fields“If slave masters
increased workloads, provided meager rations, or punished too severely, slaves registered their displeasure by slowing work, feigning illness, breaking tools, or sabotaging production.”
(Sweet)
Other Resistances Slaves would
sometimes resort to theft to go against their masters
They would steal things like fruits, vegetable, liquor, or tobacco
(Sweet)
Runaways“For most, despite the
brutal corporal punishment they would face if caught, fleeing bondage was a more hopeful option”
Most runaways were young males
(Boston)
Clever ResistancesSome slaves were more tricky and smart
One example is when slaves tricked their master into giving them good meat
They lied to the master saying that the pigs had a disease so the master would let them have the meat
Boston, Nicholas. "Slave Experience: Living Conditions." PBS. Web. 29 Mar. 2012.
"Conditions of Antebellum Slavery." Africans in America. PBS. Web. 29 Mar. 2012.
Feblowitz, Joshua. "Breaking the Cycle: Violence, Control & Resistance in American
Slave Narratives." Studentpulse.com. 2010. Web. 29 Mar. 2012.
"Malitis." Niu.edu. Web. 3 Apr. 2012.
Sweet, James. "Slave Resistance." Nationalhumanitiescenter.org. Web. 30 Mar. 2012.
Works Cited