The institution of slavery in the American South of the antebellum period - Essay Example

?The of slavery in the American South of the antebellum period Introduction Slavery refers to a system in which people, known as slaves, are regarded as property. The slaves, who could either be captured or bought, lost their human rights and were on the contrary treated at the master’s discretion. The institution of slavery in the American South of the antebellum period was a milestone in America’s history. The slaves in the period had to endure harsh treatments, adjusted to the slavery and struggle for an end to their slavery. Slavery in the American South of the antebellum period The institution of slavery, as expressed by Zinn Howard in his book “A people’s history of the United States,” is a vividly visible element of the American history. The institution developed under the watch and possible support of the then governmental administrations and thrived over time. The extent of growth in the institution of slavery in the nineteenth century was evidenced by both increase in the number of slaves and the economic output of products due to efforts of slaves in the period. Zinn for example argues that the number of slaves swiftly grew from about half a million in the beginning of the antebellum period to about four million at the end of the period. Similarly, he notes that the level of output due to slavery’s labor input also increased from a yearly output of a “thousand tons of cotton” to a “million tones output” as was reported in the year 1860 (Zinn, p. 1). The lives to which the slaves were subjected was one full of oppression and illegal activities that infringed human rights and other laws. This led to a series of rebellion among the slaves and a series of interventions by government agencies and social movements, initiatives that were countered by syndicated approaches towards maintenance of the status quo. Some of the anti slavery initiatives were made by “the laws, courts, armed forces, and race prejudice of” political leaders (Zinn, p. 1). Meanwhile, the slaves had to endure their state and try their best to lead contented lives under captivity. Being captives and held as property, the slaves lacked the rights and freedoms that other members of the society enjoyed. The freedom of movement and freedom of choice was for example lost once a person became a slave. This is because once an individual entered the institution as a slave, he, or she was subjected to be at the owner’s choice location. The owner would for example order for presence of slaves at a particular farm and the slaves would have no alternative but to be there. Similarly, the slaves would work at the owners’ schedules without any right to complain (Zinn, p. 1). At the same time, the laws that could have protected the slave’s interest were undermined. The syndicated institutions that involved management and ownership of the slaves ensured that slavery was practiced without interference of provisions of the law. As a result, any legal requirements that intended to protect the rights and freedom of the slaves at the time were disregarded, subjecting the slaves to torture and suffering. Though the slaves had moments of merry, it was not due to happiness in their lives but an avenue for rejuvenating their hopes in suffering. They for example sang songs of joy amidst physical abuse such as beatings and being chained. The hostile environment to which the slaves were subjected even led to some deaths as were reported between the years 1850 and 1855. The transactional network that could sell a slave away from family members and friends infringed the slaves’ right and freedom of association. This meant a psychological pain of losing friends or relatives with little hope of ever seeing them again or knowing what their fate would be. Such was the pain that one Abream Scriven and his family and friends had to go through when he was sold off by his master in the year 1858 (Zinn, p. 1). Though the slaves seemed to cope with the slavery in a docile, submissive, and helpless attitude that was characterized by a friendly behavior towards the whites, there were constant fears of insurgent rebellion among slave owners. The slaves however, later in the 1850s, adjusted to hostile reactions that included “stealing property, sabotage and slowness, killing overseers and masters, burning down plantations, and running away” (Zinn, p. 1). These initiatives were undertaken amidst threats of harsh consequences such as attacks by slave owners’ dogs and wild animals that the slaves could encounter during escapes from the south. Harriet is an example of a victim of slavery who suffered a head injury from slavery before embracing the risk of escaping and later helping many more slaves to escape from captivity (Zinn, p. 1). With political developments between the north and the south that culminated into war, the slaves in the south found avenues to spearheading antislavery campaigns through political associations. There was however still, initiated forces that oppressed the slaves as local authorities formed rules that favored slave owners. Though not strictly considered as slaves, the blacks were denied basic rights. Mississippi for example, in the year 1865 illegalized land ownership among the former slaves and provided for imprisonment penalties for those who breached their labor contracts. The federal government however moved to support the blacks’ effort to fight slavery through liberalization laws and the courts later ensured proper law enforcement against slavery. Political initiatives also ensured legislations that established rights of the slaves to be accorded equal treatments as the whites (Zinn, p. 1). Conclusion The institution of slavery in the American south subjected slaves to a degradation in which they were valued as property without rights. This led to unjust treatments such as physical abuse and psychological torture through forceful family separations in sales of slaves besides forced labor. Though the slaves were initially docile and submissive, they later developed hostility into rebellion. They adjusted by revolting, killing their overseers and masters, and running away to other states. The ultimate salvation however came from political difference between the North and the South that led to antislavery legislation and black empowerment and a final judicial effort to protect the rights of the blacks. Works cited Zinn, Howard. “Slavery without submission, emancipation without freedom.” History is a weapon. http://www.historyisaweapon.com. Web. 18 April, 2012. Read More