SLAVERYSLAVERY

The BeginningThe Beginning

Slavery began in the Americas Slavery began in the Americas in the early 1600’s.in the early 1600’s.

Before Africans were brought Before Africans were brought over, the Native Americans over, the Native Americans were forced into slavery.were forced into slavery.

As most of the natives began As most of the natives began dying out due to disease and dying out due to disease and harsh treatment, more slaves harsh treatment, more slaves were needed.were needed.

The 1The 1stst slaves to be brought slaves to be brought to North America came in to North America came in 1619 to a tobacco farm in 1619 to a tobacco farm in Virginia.Virginia.

At first they were brought At first they were brought as anas an indentured servant indentured servant, , but later placed into but later placed into slavery. An indentured slavery. An indentured servant must work for a servant must work for a certain number of years, but certain number of years, but were then given freedom.were then given freedom.

Slave traders learned Slave traders learned quickly that they could make quickly that they could make a lot of money in the a lot of money in the business.business.

Once captured the slaves Once captured the slaves would board a ship on the would board a ship on the West Coast of Africa.West Coast of Africa.

The slaves ships were so The slaves ships were so crowded that many people had crowded that many people had no room to breath. no room to breath. Sanitation became a problem.Sanitation became a problem.

Many died on the trip to Many died on the trip to the Americas.the Americas.

Slaves ships docked in Slaves ships docked in places like Savannah, places like Savannah, Charleston, and New Charleston, and New Orleans.Orleans.

Prices ranged from a few Prices ranged from a few hundred dollars to almost hundred dollars to almost two thousand.two thousand.

SLAVERY IN THE SOUTHSLAVERY IN THE SOUTH

After the invention of the After the invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney cotton gin by Eli Whitney in 1793, cotton became in 1793, cotton became “king” in the south.“king” in the south.

Plantations needed more Plantations needed more workers, so the slave workers, so the slave trade grew.trade grew.

By 1860, the south was By 1860, the south was producing 4 million bales producing 4 million bales of cotton annually.of cotton annually.

As the need for slaves As the need for slaves increased, so did the increased, so did the value of a slave. value of a slave. Between 1800 and 1860, Between 1800 and 1860, the value of an average the value of an average field hand increased by field hand increased by 20 times the previous 20 times the previous amount.amount.

Slaves were bought and sold Slaves were bought and sold at slave auctions. Every at slave auctions. Every major city in the south had major city in the south had an auction.an auction.

About 75% of all slaves were About 75% of all slaves were purchased as field hands. purchased as field hands. More than ½ of all slaves in More than ½ of all slaves in the U.S. worked on cotton the U.S. worked on cotton plantations in the south.plantations in the south.

Some slaves were more Some slaves were more fortunate. They might be fortunate. They might be employed as house servants employed as house servants or highly-trained craftsmen.or highly-trained craftsmen.

In 1790 GA had 29,264 slaves. In 1790 GA had 29,264 slaves. By 1860, 70 years later, GA had By 1860, 70 years later, GA had 462, 198 slaves. Almost ½ of 462, 198 slaves. Almost ½ of GA’s population were slaves.GA’s population were slaves.

Most people did not own very Most people did not own very many slaves. Only one many slaves. Only one plantation in GA owned 500 or plantation in GA owned 500 or more slaves. Most people only more slaves. Most people only owned 1-2. Only about 40% owned 1-2. Only about 40% owned slaves.owned slaves.

GA ranked 2GA ranked 2ndnd behind VA in # of behind VA in # of slaves.slaves.

DAILY LIFE OF SLAVESDAILY LIFE OF SLAVES

Slaves usually ate Slaves usually ate fatback, molasses, and fatback, molasses, and cornbread. Some could grow cornbread. Some could grow a vegetable garden or fish a vegetable garden or fish in a stream or pond. in a stream or pond. Sometimes the owners gave Sometimes the owners gave them rabbits, opossums, them rabbits, opossums, squirrels, or other small squirrels, or other small game.game.

They wore clothing that They wore clothing that would last a long time. would last a long time. Clothes did not always fit Clothes did not always fit and many times the slaves and many times the slaves worked barefoot. House worked barefoot. House slaves were sometimes given slaves were sometimes given clothing that the owners no clothing that the owners no longer wore. These were longer wore. These were much better than the much better than the clothing of the field hands.clothing of the field hands.

Most slave housing was a one Most slave housing was a one room wooden cabin with one room wooden cabin with one door and one window with no door and one window with no glass. The floors were glass. The floors were usually dirt and they had usually dirt and they had little furniture. Usually little furniture. Usually only a table, some chairs and only a table, some chairs and pallets to sleep on.pallets to sleep on.

All cooking and heating was All cooking and heating was done through the fireplaces done through the fireplaces that were built with sticks that were built with sticks and dirt.and dirt.

Work routines of the slaves Work routines of the slaves was very demanding. Field was very demanding. Field hands worked six days a week, hands worked six days a week, from sunrise to sundown.from sunrise to sundown.

They worked in rice, cotton, They worked in rice, cotton, and tobacco fields.and tobacco fields.

Each slave had a certain Each slave had a certain amount to complete each day. amount to complete each day. If the slave did not complete If the slave did not complete this amount, the overseer this amount, the overseer might whip or punish him or might whip or punish him or her.her.

Besides working in the Besides working in the fields, the slaves also had fields, the slaves also had to complete other odd jobs to complete other odd jobs that needed to be done on that needed to be done on the plantation.the plantation.

Slave women worked in the Slave women worked in the fields, spent time spinning, fields, spent time spinning, sewing, weaving, preparing sewing, weaving, preparing food, and minding children.food, and minding children.

Children began work around 5-6 Children began work around 5-6 yrs. old.yrs. old.

They shooed chickens out of the They shooed chickens out of the garden and flies off the table, garden and flies off the table, carried water to workers in the carried water to workers in the field, gathered nuts and field, gathered nuts and berries, and collected berries, and collected firewood.firewood.

The overseer was hired by the The overseer was hired by the owner to manage the slaves on aowner to manage the slaves on a

day to day basis. day to day basis.

Overseers on large Overseers on large plantations were paid from plantations were paid from $200 to $1,000 a year. They $200 to $1,000 a year. They also usually got a house and also usually got a house and a small plot of land.a small plot of land.

Overseers usually carried Overseers usually carried whips and other means of whips and other means of punishment. A slave would be punishment. A slave would be whipped if refusing to work.whipped if refusing to work.

They had to be careful not to They had to be careful not to over punish as not to injure over punish as not to injure a worker. a worker.

Overseers usually had a Overseers usually had a driverdriver to help him. This was an to help him. This was an older slave that could be older slave that could be trusted to help manage the trusted to help manage the other slaves.other slaves.

Slaves did marry and have Slaves did marry and have families. If a slave could families. If a slave could not find a mate on a not find a mate on a plantation, it was encouraged plantation, it was encouraged that the slave marry from an that the slave marry from an adjoining plantation. Any adjoining plantation. Any children became the property children became the property of the owner of the mother.of the owner of the mother.

The law did not recognize The law did not recognize slave marriages. Many times slave marriages. Many times owners would separate slave owners would separate slave families when slaves were families when slaves were sold. Slave owners would sold. Slave owners would commonly threaten a slave by commonly threaten a slave by saying “I’m going to put you saying “I’m going to put you in my pocket.”in my pocket.”

Slave Religion and EducationSlave Religion and Education

Religion became a great Religion became a great comfort to the slaves. In comfort to the slaves. In many areas, the slaves were many areas, the slaves were allowed to hold their own allowed to hold their own church meetings. church meetings.

Slaves sang spiritual hymns Slaves sang spiritual hymns in church and while in church and while working.working.

Education was almost Education was almost nonexistent for most slaves. nonexistent for most slaves.

It was against the law for a It was against the law for a slave owner to teach any slave slave owner to teach any slave to read or write. It was to read or write. It was feared that if a slave could feared that if a slave could read and write, they might use read and write, they might use their talents to stir up their talents to stir up discontent among the slaves.discontent among the slaves.

Some owners taught slaves Some owners taught slaves simple words in order to help simple words in order to help get supplies.get supplies.

Music was a major part of the Music was a major part of the lives of the people in Africa.lives of the people in Africa.

Slaveholders feared the use of Slaveholders feared the use of African drums on the African drums on the plantations and prohibited plantations and prohibited their use. their use.

They feared that they might be They feared that they might be used to signal a slave revolt. used to signal a slave revolt.

To continue using the rhythm To continue using the rhythm of the drums, slave resorted of the drums, slave resorted to hand clapping, body to hand clapping, body slapping, and foot tapping.slapping, and foot tapping.

SLAVE UPRISINGSSLAVE UPRISINGS

Slaves were not allowed to Slaves were not allowed to leave plantations unless leave plantations unless with the owner, overseer or with the owner, overseer or with a pass.with a pass.

This made is impossible for This made is impossible for slaves to have secret slaves to have secret meetings to create a plan meetings to create a plan for escape.for escape.

Slave CodesSlave Codes took away all took away all rights of slaves. The rights of slaves. The codes said:codes said:

1.1. It was illegal for a slave It was illegal for a slave to testify against a white.to testify against a white.

2.2. A slave could not show A slave could not show disrespect to a white.disrespect to a white.

3.3. Could not make any physical Could not make any physical contact with a white.contact with a white.

4.4. Could not carry a weapon.Could not carry a weapon.

However even with all of the However even with all of the supervision, some slave supervision, some slave uprisings did occur.uprisings did occur.

In 1800, Gabriel Prosser In 1800, Gabriel Prosser organized an uprising, but organized an uprising, but two of the slaves told their two of the slaves told their owners two hours before it owners two hours before it was to take place.was to take place.

Prosser was arrested and Prosser was arrested and executed with 34 others.executed with 34 others.

In 1831, Nat Turner led the In 1831, Nat Turner led the bloodiest slave revolt in bloodiest slave revolt in American History. He was a American History. He was a slave preacher in Virginia. slave preacher in Virginia. During attacks he and his During attacks he and his followers killed between 57 followers killed between 57 and 65 white men, women, and and 65 white men, women, and children. children.

Turner and 20 others were Turner and 20 others were killed.killed.

ABOLISTIONISTSABOLISTIONISTS

Many people wanted to get Many people wanted to get rid of slavery. These rid of slavery. These people were called people were called abolitionistsabolitionists. .

They made speeches, wrote They made speeches, wrote books and articles, and books and articles, and offered their homes as a offered their homes as a safe house to runaway safe house to runaway slaves.slaves.

William Lloyd Garrison William Lloyd Garrison published a newspaper published a newspaper called called The LiberatorThe Liberator, , which urged freedom for which urged freedom for all people.all people.

Harriet Beecher Stowe Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote about slaves in wrote about slaves in Uncle Tom’s Cabin.Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

The best known The best known abolitionists was a former abolitionists was a former slave, Frederick Douglas. slave, Frederick Douglas.

Douglas printed a Douglas printed a newspaper titled newspaper titled North North Star.Star. He also gave many He also gave many speeches about slavery.speeches about slavery.

Sojourner Truth, another Sojourner Truth, another freed slave, also gave freed slave, also gave many speeches.many speeches.

Harriet Tubman helped Harriet Tubman helped many slaves escape on the many slaves escape on the underground railroad.underground railroad.

This was a chain of homes, This was a chain of homes, farms, and churches were farms, and churches were runaway slaves could rest runaway slaves could rest and hide from slave and hide from slave catchers.catchers.

The slaves continued The slaves continued running until they reached running until they reached a free state or Canada.a free state or Canada.

Around 50,000 slaves Around 50,000 slaves escaped on the underground escaped on the underground railroad between 1830-railroad between 1830-1860.1860.

GA’s attitude toward slavery.GA’s attitude toward slavery.

While only 40% of population While only 40% of population owned slaves, the worth of owned slaves, the worth of the slaves ran into millions the slaves ran into millions of dollars.of dollars.

A few whites spoke out A few whites spoke out against slavery, but most against slavery, but most felt that it was the way of felt that it was the way of life.life.

Many felt that they were Many felt that they were helping to care for the helping to care for the blacks and teaching them blacks and teaching them Christianity.Christianity.