Slavery: The Early To Mid-Nineteenth Century

Slavery was an unacceptable practice that existed in the South that grew prominent in the nineteenth century. With the abolition of the Slave Trade in 1808, slavery became more of a racially based social structure. As slavery became more based on race, the treatment of both slaves and freed African Americans became more and more cruel. The Early to Mid-Nineteenth century was a harsh era for African Americans, but it during their time in slavery their drive to gain freedom only gained more strength the longer they were in servitude.

Within the Book Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl you read about feats of almost superhuman abilities, whether it be hiding in an attic for seven years or sacrificing yourselves in name of freedom. Linda, the

protagonist, suffered many abuses while under the ownership of Dr. Flint and his family. Eventually Linda decides to hide herself from her owners by living in the attic of her grandmother for seven years. This took a very strong will to be able to stay within the uncomfortable confines of an attic over the span of seven years. Linda even talked about it during her hiding “I had resolved that, come what would, there should be no turning back `Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death’ Was my Motto” (Jacobs; pg. 83) This will was also prevalent in the African-American regiments the were enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War. The 54th Massachusetts Infantry was completely composed of escaped slaves that were under the command of white officers. They are famous for their assault on the confederate installation Fort Wagner. During the attack, close to half of the regiments 600 soldiers lost their lives storming the fort as well as their commander being lost. Their willingness to sacrifice their lives became legendary. The drive of African Americans is evident and it was through their desire for freedom that they were able to complete tasks that few are able to do.
Slavery was hard on the African Americans and it was through the will of courageous individuals like the fictional character Linda that would contribute to the abolition of Slavery in the United States. African Americans were willing to do practically anything in the hope that they would not be forced back into slavery. This idea was evident in the actions of groups like the 54th Massachusetts Infantry who sacrificed their lives because they knew that if they were to be captured they would certainly return to a lifetime of struggle and pain; as Linda similarly talked about she “dreaded being caught” (Jacobs; pg. 83) . Overall through the works of Abolitionists, writers like Harriet Jacobs, and the soldiers, slavery was able to be abolished in the United States by 1865.