PW - Slavery Document Analysis Lesson

Slavery Document Analysis

Document Analysis iconFew, if any issues, have been as controversial in American History as slavery. Slavery began very early in the American experience. It was initially legal in the North and South, but had begun to disappear in the North by the time of the American Revolution. In the South, it took root as a key foundation of the cash crop agricultural system. In the North, the movement to outlaw slavery (abolitionism) began with small groups of people, but eventually grew to be a major social movement. Southerners (even many whites who did not own slaves) vigorously defended slavery based on economic need, states' rights, and attitudes of racial superiority. To the abolitionists, slavery was an immoral practice that stripped human beings of dignity and freedom. To the Southern defenders of slavery, it was a legitimate practice that they often argued was even beneficial for the slaves themselves. Treatment of slaves varied from location to location, but in all cases it involved people holding other people in bondage against their will.

Examine these 5 documents and answer the questions that follow. You can also download a pdf copy of the documents here. Links to an external site.

Document 1: Quote from Thomas Jefferson, 1782 The whole commerce between master and slave is a perpetual exercise of the...most unremitting despotism on the one part, and degrading submissions on the other.....Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever.

Document 2: from Solomon Northrop who was a free black kidnapped into slavery, but later freed and became an active abolitionist An hour before day light the horn is blown. Then the slaves arouse, prepare their breakfast, fill a gourd with water, in another deposit their dinner of cold bacon and corn cake, and hurry to the field again. It is an offense invariably followed by a flogging, to be found at the quarters after daybreak.... The hands are required to be in the cotton field as soon as it is light in the morning, and, with the exception of ten or fifteen minutes, which is given them at noon to swallow their allowance of cold bacon, they are not permitted to be a moment idle until it is too dark to see, and when the moon is full, they often times labor till the middle of the night. They do not dare to stop even at dinner time, nor return to the quarters, however late it be, until the order to halt is given by the driver.... Finally, at a late hour, they reach the quarters, sleepy and overcome with the long day's toil. All that is allowed them is corn and bacon, which is given out at the corn--crib and smoke-- house every Sunday morning. Each one receives, as his weekly allowance, three and a half pounds of bacon, and corn enough to make a peck of meal. That is all.

Document 3: from Sir Charles Lyell’s observations on slavery The laborers begin work at six o'clock in the morning, have an hour's rest at nine for breakfast, and many have finished their assigned task by two o'clock, all of them by three o'clock. In summer, they divide their work differently, going to bed in the middle of the day, then rising to finish their task, and afterward spending a great part of the night in chatting, merry--making, preaching, and psalm--singing.... The laborers are allowed Indian meal, rice, and milk, and occasionally pork and soup. As their rations are more than they can eat, they either return part of it at the end of the week, or they keep it to feed their fowls, which they usually sell, as well as their eggs, for cash, to buy molasses, tobacco, and other luxuries.... The sight of the whip was painful to me as a mark of degradation, reminding me that the lower orders of slaves are kept to their work by mere bodily fear, and that their treatment must depend on the individual character of the owner or overseer.

Document 4: George Fitzhugh, from Cannibals All or Slaves Without Masters (1857) The Negro slaves of the South are the happiest, and, in some sense, the freest people in the world. The children and the aged and infirm work not at all, and yet have all the comforts and necessaries of life provided for them. They enjoy liberty, because they are oppressed neither by care nor labor. The women do little hard work, and are protected from the despotism of their husbands by their masters. The Negro men and stout boys work, on the average, in good weather, not more than nine hours a day....Besides they have their Sabbaths and holidays. The free laborer must work or starve. He is more of a slave than the Negro, because he works longer and harder for less allowance than the slave, and has no holiday, because the cares of life with him begin when its labor end. He has no liberty, and not a single right.

Document 5: Mississippi Cotton Plantation painting by Currier and Ives

Questions

  1. Based on what you have previously learned about Thomas Jefferson, what is ironic about the quote from him in Document 1?
  2. Which of the documents presents the most negative view of slave life? What may be a reason for this?
  3. Which document presents the most positive view of slave life? Why?
  4. How is it possible that the primary sources (these and others) can present such a varied view of slave life?
  5. What are three things that you have learned about the plantation system and slavery that are reflected in the painting?

Answer the questions on your own paper or word processing document.

 

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