Slavery Dbq

Although slavery was an important component of the growing Americas, many African Americans were emotionally, spiritually, and physically abused by the dehumanizing slavery. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, slavery was widely practiced in the American colonies. The production of the cotton gin in the early 1800s made slavery a very important aspect of Southern agriculture. Many slaves worked in harsh conditions to help maintain the fields, “sunup to sundown”. Although there were many arguments for and against slavery over the years, most of the information did not come directly from the African American slaves themselves. Through different anecdotes, stories, and songs, we learn how different slaves viewed slavery in America. What did

Many masters believed that their slaves shouldn’t have contact with any aspect of religion. “I guess we believed that for awhile ‘cause we didn’t have no way finding out different. We didn’t see no Bibles” (190.) This is where both religion and education go hand in hand. These slaves were not able to freely practice religion because they could not read and interpret the scriptures for themselves. Many white masters felt that African Americas should not be taught how to read and write. Not only were the slaves not able to intellectually interpret the Bible, they would be punished if they were caught praying or worshipping. “He didn’t like for us niggers to pray, either….But some the old niggers tell us we got to pray to God, that he don’t think different of us blacks” (190.) The gives a great example of how the slaves viewed religion in slavery. Although many slaves could have been punished, whipped, and even killed, they continued to go against their master’s wishes and still practice religion. Many African Americans felt comfort, faith, and courage in practicing religion, despite endless work, punishment, and

While some white masters prohibited their slaves from learning God’s word, many masters made their slaves feel like they had no way out. The meaning of freedom became very different between white and black Americans. Many white masters felt that African American slaves purpose was to work and serve them. Little did they know, slavery would become one of the most unethical issues in history. “I was now about twelve years old, and the thought of being a slave for life began to bear heavily upon my heart” (195.) This exert from the reading proves that many slaves wished to be freed in America. While some slave owners were more harsh and unethical than others, I feel that the majority of slaves wished and prayed for slavery to someday be completely abolished. “They’d pray, “Lord, deliver us from under bondage” (188.) This evidence confirms that slaves wanted to be freed and that they turned to God for help. Many masters were sadistic and chose to harshly dehumanize their