City and Rural Slaves

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By 1860, nearly 3,950,528 slaves resided in the United States (1860 census). Contrary to popular belief, not all slaves worked in hot and humid fields. Some slaves worked as skilled laborers in cities or towns. The slaves belonged to different social or slave classes depending on their location. The treatment of the slaves was also a variable that changed greatly, depending on the following locations: city, town or rural. Although all slaves were products of racial views, their living conditions, education, and exposure to ideas differed greatly depending on their social classes and if they lived in a rural or urban setting. There were three different types of social or slave classes. The first class consisted of the city slaves, who were primarily used as domestic labor. They worked around the houses or mansions of their wealthy masters; they were called the aristocrat slaves. The first class slaves could read and write, for they quickly noticed the language in the home setting (Dailylife). The second class was the town slaves. They were not just domestic slaves of the common citizen, but also skilled labor. They worked as mechanics, laborers, washwomen, etc. They, likewise, were somewhat educated. They were considered every freedman’s right hand man. In addition, they were sometimes hired and paid for their work. The payment was little, but a step toward abolishment. The final and largest slave class consisted of the field or rural slaves. They had little to no education and were primarily used as unskilled manual laborers. They were far below the two upper classes (Commager 467-469). The conditions they lived in were horrible, and their treatment was brutal (Boston; Conditions). The first differentiating living condition wou... ... middle of paper ... ...Web. 15 Oct. 2013. URL. . “The Clothing of a Slave.” Think Quest. Oracle Foundation. n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2013. . “The Food of a Slave.” Think Quest. Oracle Foundation. n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2013. . Shaw, Madelyn. “Slave Cloth and Clothing Slaves: Craftsmanship, Commerce, and Industry.” Journal of Early Southern Decorative Arts. Mesda Journal. 2012. Web. 13 Nov. 2013. . Sambol-Tosco, Kimberly. “Historical Overview: Education, Arts, & Culture.” Slavery and the Making of America. PBS. 2004. 2. Web. 29 September 2013. .

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