Black Slaves in America Flashcards
What was life like fore slaves on plantations?
>Difficult >Poor fed >Poorly housed >Hard physical labour >Loss of identity >Families were split
Why weren’t black people safe in America?
As they could be discriminated against since they didn’t have equal rights to the white and also the slave trade was a massive thing then so blacks could be kidnapped.
What were the arguments in favour of slavery?
> God hasn’t said anything therefore we have our blessing on slavery
Black people cannot care for themselves
Black people cannot cope with freedom
Black people are better being cared for than those who starve
The production of cotton depends on slavery, if there are no slaves the production of cotton will fall
What were the arguments against slavery?
> Slaves are held there by force and fear
Slavery is a curse
Slaves holders rob them of all they get
Slaves are treated like animals: they are overworked, underfed, and badly clothed and housed
They are forced to wear iron collars and chains
If they run away they are hunted down by dogs
Why was it difficult for slaves to resist or fight back slavery?
As they would be tortured severely and would be made to live in hell.
How was ‘San Domingo’ a successful story for slaves?
Many were able to run away to nearby mountains and could live freely. Others came back to help others escape and to encourage them to not lose hope.
How did the French help slaves?
In 1789 the people of France rebelled against the king. They then came to aid and running away was easily done.
What was Amistad?
Amistad was a group of people who were sold to Spaniards. They mutinied and attacked the ship they were on by stealing the sailors’ weapons.
How did Amistad make a difference?
The people were able to win their freedom
What were the two sides of the American civil war?
The Confederates states and the Union states.
What did the Confederate states believe?
They believed that slavery shouldn’t end and the southern states should choose for themselves.
What did the Union states believe?
They believed that slavery should end and all states should be free.
What were steps forward for slaves?
> Free slaves could marry and have many children without fearing that their family would be split up
They could work, move around and worship God as they pleased
Black Churches were where blacks could meet, educate themselves and pray
Black men could also vote, stand for election, sit in juries and become judges
What were the steps back for slaves?
> Black people in the south were allowed to vote however were physically threatened not to
Riots broke out over blacks voting and many were killed
Many schools closed down in the south, because whites stopped supplying them
Black people fell into debt because they couldn’t afford to keep them running
Many whites produced laws which would make lives of the blacks harder
Blacks were not allowed to communicate or even co-operate with the whites
Who emancipated slavery?
Abraham Lincoln
