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