What did slaves have to endure?

What did slaves have to endure?

Slaves were punished by whipping, shackling, hanging, beating, burning, mutilation, branding, rape, and imprisonment. Punishment was often meted out in response to disobedience or perceived infractions, but sometimes abuse was performed to re-assert the dominance of the master (or overseer) over the slave.

What hardships did slaves face?

After the slaves were carelessly auctioned off to owners, they were set to work. The labor was endless and immensely difficult. Each morning the slaves rose from their shabby residences to the sound of a horn and headed out to the fields, frequently without breakfast.

What were slaves deprived of?

Slavery was a form of dependent labour performed by a nonfamily member. The slave was deprived of personal liberty and the right to move about geographically as he desired. There were likely to be limits on his capacity to make choices with regard to his occupation and sexual partners as well.

Why was resistance difficult for slaves on the plantations?

On the plantations, many enslaved Africans tried to slow down the pace of work by pretending to be ill, causing fires or ‘accidentally’ breaking tools. Whenever possible, enslaved Africans ran away. Some escaped to South America, England or North America.

Why did slaves run away from plantations?

Of course, the main reason to flee was to escape the oppression of slavery itself. To assist their flight to freedom, some escapees hid on steamboats in the hope of reaching Mobile, where they might blend in with its community of free blacks and slaves living on their own as though free.

How did slaves respond to slavery?

As the institution of American slavery grew increasingly forceful, the enslaved resisted its grip by appealing to the law, by escaping, and even by committing extreme acts like suicide and murder.