The Plantations

Question 1

What were the plantations?

Answer 1

Plantations were large farms that grew crops. Most of the African slaves were taken to plantations to work in harsh conditions.

Question 2

What were the working conditions like in Plantations?

Answer 2

• Slaves were treated like workers not humans
• They did not have much time to eat and so very poor diets, most of the day was spent working.
• They were not given medication or treatment when they were ill.
• During Harvest season they had to work through the night with no breaks.
• They were not paid.
• Their life expectancy were very low, 26 years.
• Most babies died before they were 10 due to diseases such as tetanus/ measles/ smallpox

Question 3

What were the punishments like?

Answer 3

They had very sever punishments:

• Rebels were punished by being nailed to the ground by sticks through every limb and then being gradually burned from head to toe.
• For not doing a job properly they were whipped
• If they tried to run away, heavy iron rings were put on their ankles and around their necks.
• For lesser crimes one of their feet were cut off, this was called gelding.