Treatment of the Slaves
The slaves were bought on the slave trade and put to work on farms, factories, and plantations. Most slaves weren't paid for their work and they didn't have the greatest of conditions. Every day they woke up early and worked in the field until the sun went down. Slaves had no rights like we have today. If they did something wrong they were yelled at or even beaten. If they tried to run away and were caught they would be killed. Throughout they used music and singing to make life easier.
John Little wrote,
They say slaves are happy, because they laugh, and are merry. I myself and three or four others, have received two hundred lashes in the day, and had our feet in fetters; yet, at night, we would sing and dance, and make others laugh at the rattling of our chains. Happy men we must have been! We did it to keep down trouble, and to keep our hearts from being completely broken: that is as true as the gospel! Just look at it,-must not we have been very happy? Yet I have done it myself-I have cut capers in chains.
Source: John Little, a former slave describing what life was really like for slaves. Told in 1932 during an interview for a national textbook.
They say slaves are happy, because they laugh, and are merry. I myself and three or four others, have received two hundred lashes in the day, and had our feet in fetters; yet, at night, we would sing and dance, and make others laugh at the rattling of our chains. Happy men we must have been! We did it to keep down trouble, and to keep our hearts from being completely broken: that is as true as the gospel! Just look at it,-must not we have been very happy? Yet I have done it myself-I have cut capers in chains.
Source: John Little, a former slave describing what life was really like for slaves. Told in 1932 during an interview for a national textbook.
Source: Letter from slave master, Philip Vedder, giving permission for his slave to marry Peter Jackson in 1809.
Source: Slaves working in the fields. (1850's). Showing daily life of slaves in the fields working with little food from sunrise to sunset. They worked on the task system, so if they finished the task they would get their "own time." This usually meant working in the garden or looking after the animals.
Source: Illustration. Shows the treatment of slaves by their masters. (date unknown)
Source: Gordon The Slave. (1863). After escaping from his master he went to a Union camp and had a medical inspection. They found these scars from whippings his overseer would give him. Gordon said,"Overseer Artayou Carrier whipped me. I was two months in bed sore from the whipping."
Directions: Examine the sources above and answer the questions below.
What can predict about the treatment of slaves?
What do think would happen if they were caught doing something they shouldn't?
Why do you think that John Little would sing and dance after being whipped over 100 times?
What do you think music, singing, and dancing meant to these slaves? Give evidence to support your reason.
What do think would happen if they were caught doing something they shouldn't?
Why do you think that John Little would sing and dance after being whipped over 100 times?
What do you think music, singing, and dancing meant to these slaves? Give evidence to support your reason.