Slave LifeSlave Life

What was there Field What was there Field work like?work like?

A regular working day in the fields for A regular working day in the fields for a slave was from sunrise to sunset. a slave was from sunrise to sunset.

From a slaves point of view it was From a slaves point of view it was when you could see the big yellow when you could see the big yellow thing until you couldn’t see it. thing until you couldn’t see it.

Slaves were treated so badly it was Slaves were treated so badly it was almost if they were farm animals, or almost if they were farm animals, or old machinery. old machinery.

Did Slaves get Did Slaves get Education?Education?

Most slave’s masters did not allow Most slave’s masters did not allow them to read or write.them to read or write.

Slaves tried all they could to learn.Slaves tried all they could to learn. Slaves would read anything they got Slaves would read anything they got

into there hands on, hopeing they into there hands on, hopeing they could learn from it.could learn from it.

Some times master’s wife’s and/or Some times master’s wife’s and/or daughters taught some slave’s children daughters taught some slave’s children how to read and write.how to read and write.

What were slave families What were slave families like?like?

Most families were separated when they Most families were separated when they arrived in America.arrived in America.

When young slave girls became women they When young slave girls became women they were taken away and forced t have children, were taken away and forced t have children, women had children just to make more slaves women had children just to make more slaves for the master.for the master.

Some of these girls were as young as 12.Some of these girls were as young as 12. The master would through a broom on the The master would through a broom on the

ground and two slaves would jump over it and ground and two slaves would jump over it and he would pronounce them husband and wife.he would pronounce them husband and wife.

Did the slaves get days Did the slaves get days off?off?

Field slaves got Sundays off, Field slaves got Sundays off, Household slaves did not.Household slaves did not.

Some times feild slaves got certain Some times feild slaves got certain holidays off.holidays off.

What happened when slaves What happened when slaves got caught runny away?got caught runny away?

They would get whipped, beaten.They would get whipped, beaten. Sometimes the masters would order Sometimes the masters would order

part of there foot cut off.part of there foot cut off. Some were put to death.Some were put to death.

What did house slaves What did house slaves do?do?

House slaves were trained form childhood.House slaves were trained form childhood. They would stay away from other slaves.They would stay away from other slaves. They would sleep on a palate next to the They would sleep on a palate next to the

masters bedroom.masters bedroom. They were thought that being a house slave They were thought that being a house slave

was the best thing in the world to happen to was the best thing in the world to happen to him/her.him/her.

Certain slaves were given a key ring, on it had Certain slaves were given a key ring, on it had the keys to the pantry , the , smokehouse , the the keys to the pantry , the , smokehouse , the cooling cellar, and other food storage’s.cooling cellar, and other food storage’s.

A house slaves life was easier than a field A house slaves life was easier than a field slaves, but they had to work longer hoursslaves, but they had to work longer hours

What did slaves wear?What did slaves wear? Slaves would be given one pair of Slaves would be given one pair of

shoes and three items of underwear shoes and three items of underwear a year. a year. 

Although these and other clothing Although these and other clothing would be provided by their owner, would be provided by their owner, they were often ill-fitting and made they were often ill-fitting and made of coarse material. of coarse material. 

What did slaves eat?What did slaves eat? Sometimes they were given pots and pans Sometimes they were given pots and pans

for cooking, but more often they had to for cooking, but more often they had to make their own. make their own.

The long hours they had to work in the The long hours they had to work in the fields meant that they had little free time fields meant that they had little free time for making things to improve their living for making things to improve their living conditions. conditions.

Some slaves used a hollowed out pumpkin Some slaves used a hollowed out pumpkin shell called a calabash, to cook their food shell called a calabash, to cook their food in.  in. 

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