(Lecture 11) Life Under Slavery Flashcards
What was the film that portrayed the KKK as heroes called? When did it come out?
Birth of a Nation
1915
Which strand of historians became dominant after the war?
southern historians
Who is Ulrich Bonnell Phillips?
historian who labelled slavery as a ‘benign institution’.
said black people were lazy and irresponsible.
black people needed work to put them into shape.
Who was Kenneth Stampp?
Historian who challenged Phillips with the Peculiar Institution.
Argued slavery was brutal and psychologically damaging.
1956
When did New Social History emerge and what did it argue?
1960s
Took African American sources seriously and African Americans weren’t the problem.
What were the conditions for slaves?
15/16 hour days
Cabins
Rations once a week
Bacon or pork
Couple of outfits a year
One pair of shoes a year
Few pots/dishes
Which type of slave were given special status?
house servants
What was the gang system?
organised labour into gangs, more supervision
What was the task system?
organised labour into tasks, slaves worked at own pace, finished for day when they did the task
What was Gabriel’s Rebellion? When?
1800
Gabriel and Martin Prosser organised slaves at funerals and religious meetings.
Storm washed out roads of escape.
Brothers captured.
Who was Denmark Vesey and when was his story?
1822
Won lottery and allowed to purchase freedom.
Tried to prove slavery was against Bible.
Recruited field slaves for an attack on the city.
Betrayed and executed.
Nat Turner?
1831
Turner and 5 followers went farm to farm killing white men, women and children.
Most celebrated slave rebellion in US history.
Turner captured and executed.
What was the consequence of Nat Turner’s rebellion?
Made it illegal for black people to perform services without white supervision (like reading)
What percentage of runaways were men between 16 and 35?
80%
Why did women run away less?
Tied to their children
