Slavery in the Antebellum South after the Revolutionary - Literature review Example

Slavery in the Antebellum South after the Revolutionary During the Atlantic slave trade, approximately 17 million people men, women and children were enslaved and transported from Africa to the West Indies. The Atlantic slave trade took place between 17th and 19th Centuries and it was perpetrated by the Europeans. Given the filthy conditions in which the slaves were transported across the Atlantic, “at least one million Africans lost their lives on the crossing” (Slideshow 5: 2). The Revolutionary era marked the turning point for slavery in America. For the very first time, slavery became a fundamental social issue given the “enlightenment thought on rights and related issues; new economic thought about the market; and religious developments” (Slideshow 5: 12). Expansion of Slavery in the South after the Revolutionary War After the revolutionary, slavery in the antebellum South expanded rapidly in comparison to slavery in the North. Opponents of slavery had envisioned a decline in slave population following the cessation of slave importations during the revolution. On the contrary, the first state census conducted after the revolutionary indicated unprecedented growth of slave populations. The domestic slave trade in the south expanded for a number of reasons (Slideshow 5: 6). To begin with, a large pool of surplus slaves was created following the exhaustion of soils to support tobacco farming in the Chesapeake region (Kolchin, p. 66). Secondly, the expulsion of Indians from Southwest and Southeast fundamentally open new lands. Southerners relocated into Alabama, Western Georgia and Mississippi in massive numbers after the War of 1812 leading to the expulsion of the Indians who were already living in these regions. A population surge in the South created a frenzy that laid the ground for expansion of slavery due to availability of cheap labor. The created new lands provided new economic opportunities and consequently new demands for slaves. Rapid migration of southerners in combination with the immediate replacement of Indians by planters stimulated the expansion of slave trade in the South (Kolchin, p. 94). While opinion on slavery was shifting elsewhere, slavery expanded in the South following the growth of the cotton economy. Cotton became a major plantation crop in the south after Eli Whitney’s introduction of cotton gin in 1793. The invention of cotton gin led to the rapid cultivation of short-staple cotton, subsequently according slavery a new and powerful lease on life. In essence, the invention of cotton gin led to the reopening of slave trade, in addition to ensuring rapid spread of slavery into inland South (Slideshow 5: 26). Moreover, the rapid expansion of slavery in the South was also driven by the enormous demand for laborers between 1800 and 1830. Law makers in the South would then defend the manner in which slaveholders consolidated power, as well as the expansion of slavery (Kolchin, p. 98). A proslavery argument emerged after the revolution which promoted slavery as a necessary evil for the good of society. The proslavery argument held the notion that slavery conformed to republican values. The Federal government also promoted slave trade and the expansion of slavery after it expelled the French in 1803 to secure Louisiana. The Federal government axed the Indians who had resided in the South following the expulsion of the French, in addition to annexing Texas and other territorial lands from Mexico in the 1840s. International slave trade came to an end in 1809, effectively cutting off the traditional supply of slaves. Despite the termination of international slave trade, slaves were readily available given the natural expansion of African American populations Kolchin, pp. 91-98). After 1812, the slavery system expanded to the Deep South over extended periods of time. The slavery system expanded through a domestic slave trade that was responsible for bringing to the New South over one million African Americans by 1860. Expansion of slavery in the South gave rise to brutal and deplorable conditions that mocked the benevolence of slaveholders. Slavery increased in brutality and severity as a consequence of violence, justification of slavery by white planters and resistance from the slaves. Slaveholders often sold slaves to increase their profits thus making slavery a very profitable venture (. The economic advantage of slavery along with its status reinstated slavery in the South even though slavery had been prohibited in the North. Prohibition of slavery in the North motivated slaves in the South to emancipate themselves from the chains of slavery. The slaves would seek asylum from British soldiers after running away from their masters. However, slaveholders posted advertisements in newspapers of the time in an attempt to recapture their “lost property” before they count make contact with the British. Slaves’ desire to gain freedom from slavery was impeded by the Federal government, whose efforts to abolish slavery left a lot to be desired (Slideshow 5:23). Clauses in the Constitution ratified after the revolution forbade emancipation of slaves who had run away from their masters by demanding their immediate return to their respective masters. Therefore, the Constitution protected and reinforced the institution of slavery through its pro-slavery clauses (Kolchin, pp. 90-91). While slavery was being banned in the North after the revolutionary war, proponents of slavery in the South were busy promoting pro-slavery arguments. After the revolution, white slaveholders in the South justified slavery by pointing to the Bible or by alluding to classical Rome and Greece as model examples. Slavery was also defended on the basis of the constitution and considered as a defense of property right. Slaveholders justified slavery as providing benefits to slaves in terms of wages and other material benefits. Any debate on slavery in the South was stifled by slaveholders who feared growing abolitionism, slave revolts and prohibition of slavery expansion (Kolchi, pp. 96-98). Overall, the availability of cheap labor from black populations, coupled with higher demand of labor in cotton plantations, facilitated the massive expansion of slavery after the revolutionary war. Financial proceeds from the production of cotton were majorly used to spur industrial and trade developments in the North. However, the concentration of planters’ investments in slaves, cotton and land only generated short-term benefits. Cotton was a dominant crop in the South that tied up with slavery. Consequently, the South lagged behind in terms of industrialization, urban populations and infrastructure. Development in the South was supported by industrial development and economic diversification. Conditions of the Slaves Slave population underwent massive growth massive growth between 1790 and 1860. Since most slaves lived within groups of ten or more people, they were able to form their own communities during this period. By 1820, a large proportion of black slaves had been born on the American soil (Slideshow 5: 6). Therefore, these black slaves were able to form their own homogenous communities. African cultural influences, such as religion, marriage and other cultural practices, remained important for black slaves. Fictive kinship networks were created as part of an intricate community development process of order which was crucial in maintaining family values. Some cultural influences from Africa were valuable, such as incest taboos, which prevented inbreeding within the black communities (Kolchin, p. 135). Reliance on the natural increase as the means of population growth greatly affected African influences on community development. The foremost challenge with natural increase was based on the fact that the slaves had to survive in order to reproduce. Survival at the time was very difficult considering that the life expectancy of slaves was significantly lower compared to that of the whites. While slaveholders claimed treating their slaves more humanely compared to the manner in which industrialists in the north treated their employees, slaves in the South lived in deplorable conditions. The slaves typically lived one-room cabins that had a few furnishings and with dirty floors Kolchin, p. 133). Slaveholders gave slaves essentials for their basic upkeep, such as food and clothing. Conversely, these essentials were never adequate and slaves hard to work extra hard to earn them. Slaves adopted a survival strategy of avoiding punishment and pleasing their masters to earn favors (Slideshow 5: 20). Most of the slaves worked as field hands in plantations while the rest worked as house servants. Regardless of the type of work carried out by the slaves, they were under constant and strict supervision from white supervisors. The absence of immigrant labor gave some of the skilled slaves to take up vacant positions. However, more than 75% worked as unskilled laborers in the cotton plantations from dawn to dusk. A majority of these slaves suffered from poor health considering the conditions they were exposed to in the cotton plantations (Kolchin, pp. 135-137). The opening-up of western lands caused instability in slave life and community development since many slaves were separated from their families. Slaveholders often sold slaves to their counterparts from the West or transferred them to their (slaveholders) plantations in the West. Slavery thus made immense economic contributions to slaveholders in the South. The livelihood of slaveholders in the antebellum South was tied to slavery and slaves were exploited in every possible way to maximize their masters’ economic fortunes. Abolitionists in the South, particularly those in the North, considered slavery as a non-Christian practice. Slavery was considered by the abolitionists as exploitation of less-fortunate populations based on their skin color (Kolchin, p. 94). Much as slaveholders in the South claimed to treat their slaves in a humane manner, abolitionists considered the treatment of slaves in the south as being both inhumane and atrocious. Most slaves understood the difficulty of escaping the bondage of slavery but some managed to escape. There are those who would run away but later return after few weeks. Those who returned are who were caught running away often faced devastating consequences, including punishment by death. Severe punishment did not kill the desire to escape among other slaves who organized large-scale conspiracies to revolt against their masters. However, their plans were often scuttled before reaching maturity (Kolchin, p. 137). Lateness was never tolerated by overseers manning the plantations. Those who reported late for work were whipped (ten lashes) by the overseers and no one ever dared to intervene. Slavery brutalized the finer and humane feelings of slaves’ nature which included: “…listening to the agonizing screeches of the slave…beholding him writhing beneath the merciless lash…bitten and torn by dogs…dying without attention, and buried without shroud or coffin” (Reading 5: 3). Slaveholders had no recourse for human existence and dignity given the brutality they meted on the slaves in their plantations and homes. Even in the midst of such brutality, slaves were required to show their hatred towards their masters but instead “…always look pleased when he saw us, and we were afraid to speak what we thought because some would tell master” (Reading 5: 4). Slaveholders committed numerous atrocities against their slaves without fear of retribution. Slaveholders were never punished for the lives that were lost through their brutality based on the assertion that “…I never knew a solitary instance in which a slaveholder was either hung or imprisoned for having murdered a slave” (Reading 5: 2). Resistance was often used as a means of justifying the murder of slaves. Opinion in the South favored a white assailant at the expense of a slave who had, but just raised his hand in self defense. White assailants were fully justified in shooting down the slave who had raised his hand in self defense (Reading 5: 2). Slaveholders had a tendency of sending spies among their slaves to ascertain the views and thoughts of slaves regarding their conditions. The slaves were aware of this tendency but chose to keep silent because “…a still tongue makes a wise head” (Reading 5: 2). Slaves preferred to suppress the truth than suffer the consequences of being open about the truth in order to appear as “…part of the human family” (Reading 5: 2). The only time they talked about their masters was when they were flattering them and saying something favorable about their masters when speaking to strangers. Even when asked about the kindness of their masters, slaves never gave a negative response. Slaves “…always measured the kindness of my master by the standard of kindness set up by slaveholders around us” (Reading 5: 2). The Practice of Paternalism Relationship between masters and their slaves has always been portrayed as cruel and inhumane. However, other school of thought feels that master-slave relationships were not that extreme. Within this context, the concept of paternalism was introduced in slavery to portray the other side of slavery where masters developed personal interest in their slaves’ lives. Under this arrangement, paternalism bonded masters with slaves in intimate and affectionate relationships. Paternalism allowed masters to reciprocate their slaves’ hard work with essentials and other favors. Such kind of paternalism was self-justifying ideology that was not applicable in the South since slaveholders’ intend was to exploit their slaves as much as possible (Slideshow 5: 26). Paternalism was practiced in the South to reinforce superiority of slaveholders without any feelings of guilt. Compromise required the participation of both parties but most slaves were skeptical about such a pact. Slaves in the South did everything within their power to defy and challenge their masters’ authority. Defiance was used by slaves to retaliate against slaveholders’ brutality and show displeasure with their living conditions. The ideology of paternalism entailed masters taking care of the slaves on grounds of personal attachment. Slaveholders in the South gave plentiful supply of food to the slaves which made the slaves more nourished than most Southern Whites (Slideshow 5: 19). Slaveholders sought sexual favors from women by promising to free their children. Women also sought sexual favors from their masters and overseers to guarantee a secure future for their families. Desire for favors, such as increased food rations and other luxuries, motivated other women to engage in sex with their white masters and/or overseers. Some of these sexual escapades resulted in offspring but both white masters and overseers never acknowledged their children. Denial of paternity exemplified the brutality of slavery whereby its main objective was making profits since “…a man who will enslave his own blood may not be safely relied on for magnanimity” (Reading 5: 2). The children born of the slaves were also enslaved by working as domestic workers. The children played with their masters’ children and developed filial relationships with each other. As years went by, their masters’ children would be sent to school. Relationship between children and their masters’ children was cozy at childhood but dramatically changed during adulthood. While at school, the masters’ children were taught that “…slaves are not companions for them” (Reading 5:4). On returning home, childhood friendships were forgotten and replaced with master-slave relationships. Slaveholders ensured that “…the whip is put into their hands, and they soon regard the Negro in no other light than as a slave” (Reading 5: 4). Influence of Religion and Community Ties Slave communities supported the development of indigenous cultures that influenced every aspect of Southern life. The family and the church became crucial components of the slave community (Slideshow 5: 6). Slave marriages formed havens of intimacy and love among slaves even though such marriages were neither recognized by law nor respected by masters. Slaves’ children found much comfort, protection and support within kinship networks making the family an important aspect of slave life. Notwithstanding the importance of family, slaves’ families were frequently split by slaveholders for economic reasons even if they (masters) tried to avoid splitting-up families in some cases (Kolchin, p. 138). Apart from family, religion was also central in the slaves’ way of life. Slaveholders did not permit their slaves to practice African traditional religions but folk culture still flourished in slaves’ communities. Restrictions on African traditional religions introduced slaves to Christianity during the first and second Great Awakenings. African-American churches begun emerging in the 1970s and whites were optimistic that Christianity would make slaves more obedient to their masters (Slideshow 5: 26). On the contrary, the slaves considered Christianity as a channel for transmitting liberating message. Christianity ended up strengthening family and community ties, as well as offering spiritual freedom to the practicing slaves. Young children were often taught in the church that God “... made everybody, and that he made white people to be masters and mistresses and black people to be slaves” (Reading 5: 1). The children were also told that God was good and he knew what was good for the children and for everyone else. However, the experiences that children had when they encountered the brutality of the slaveholders made them question such teachings. Children found it quite difficult to reconcile “…the relation of slavery with my crude notions of goodness” (Reading 5; 1). The theory of slavery was found to be puzzling considering the realization that there were “…blacks who were not slaves…whites who were not slaveholders… persons who were nearly white, who were slaves. Color, therefore, was a very unsatisfactory basis for slavery” (Reading 5: 1). Graduation into adulthood challenged childhood religious teachings which in turn set the stage for making clear distinctions between slavery and freedom. One group that was influenced by religion was the Lynn Female Anti-Slavery Society. The religious basis of this society is based on the assertion that “…the meeting was opened by reading a selection from Scripture” (Reading 3: 1). The Society’s report ascribes to a higher power by stating that “…we are confirmed in the belief that the work is the Lord’s and that the wrath of man shall praise Him, and the remainder He will restrain” (Reading 3: 1). Strong belief in God gave the women a ray of hope that “…in doing so we cannot fail of noting that the signal blessing of God has attended it, and that his providence points most distinctly to its accomplishments” (Reading 3: 1). The expansion of slavery in the South following the revolution was based on a number of interlinking factors. The expulsion of Indians witnessed a surge in the movement of Southerners. Secondly, the large population density black populations provided the needed cheap labor. Thirdly the invention of cotton gin expanded cotton plantations, which in turn spurred the need for laborers. Finally, post-revolution ideology in the South favored the growth of slavery and slave trade. Despite expansion of slavery in the South, religious influence and community development changed slaves’ perceptions of slavery. To that effect, they begun looking for means to emancipate themselves from slavery. Read More