Slavery has been woven into the fabric of our nation. It holds deep dark secrets only
known to generations past. It is part of who we are, and serves as the fuel for decades of
controversy and divide in our country. Even in our modern society today we see traces and
reminders of our heritage as a society driven and forged from slavery.
In this paper I will explore the social attitudes of slavery and events that led up to the
Civil War. I will explain the essence of white power, and discuss the truth behind the
mistreatment of slaves. I will conclude with the gleam of hope as slaves band together to fight
for the freedom that is rightfully theirs. Some losing their lives in hope that the next generation
will not be forced to live their lives in the bondage know as slavery.
Pre-Civil War Salve Society
Slavery was a way of life in the pre-civil war days of the south. In fact, many believe that
the success of the southern economy relied heavily on an abundance of physical labor to work
the massive plantations. This attitude was supported by wealthy plantation owners who pushed
their fallings and beliefs on politicians and lawmakers. Slave owners had the presidency on their
side for many years because most Presidents of this err were southern. The northern part of our
country had very opposing attitudes when it came to slavery. It seemed to be a general attitude
that slaves did not have any rights as human beings and that it was perfectly fine to hold them
captive and treat them as property. After all, slavery was not a new concept or idea. African
Americans had been enslaved since the seventeenth century. Slave owners were born to slave
owners for generations, so it was considered my many to be a perfectly normal way of life.
White Power
One of the intentions of Douglas’s writings was to bring the evilness and brutality of
slavery to light. Douglas wanted to educate people on what truly happens at these large
plantations, and how slave owners use their power through cruel behaviors. Slave owners made
every effort to maintain their authority over slaves. The brutality of this begins early in a slave
child’s life when he is taken from his mother as Douglas mentions early in his book. Douglas
believed that this was a ploy to keep the slaves vulnerable. Another very common way that slave
owners enforced their power was the act of raping and impregnating female slaves. This act
helped the slave owner to acquire “free” working hands on the plantation. Douglas recounts that
a particular slave named Caroline was purchased by a slave owner named Mr. Covey as a
“breeder” (p.54). Mr. Covey hired a married to live with him for one year in order to “fasten
up” with her every night for a year (p.55) in order to produce more slaves. Power over slaves
was not just a physical thing like the beatings, whippings, and rapes. It was also a demoralizing
mental power that changed the slave from the inside out. Slaves were considered property and as
Douglas states were often lined up along side livestock to be valued in the same manner. Women
and female slaves were not immune to severe beatings. Douglas recalls the instance when aunt
Hester had disobeyed the orders that she stay away from Colonial Lloyds son Ned. This offence
resulted in aunt Hester going into the kitchen and stripping from the neck to waist. Colonial
Lloyd tied her hands with rope and hung her dangling from a hook saying “I’ll learn you how to
disobey my orders!” (p.6). He commenced to beat her with a whip as blood dripped to the floor.
Slaved were also forbidden to speak of their opinions or feelings about anything. If a punishment
was handed down there was no need for their input or recollection of an incident. Douglas
references as he explains how Colonel Lloyd was going down the road and came upon a slave
walking. The slave was asked who his master was and how he was treated. The slave relied that
his owner was Colonel Lloyd and he was treated badly. Within a few weeks this slave was
chained and sold in Georgia. Slaves should always express on contentment when questioned by
others. The suppression of the truth was a very common expectation. Negative actions of a slave
had to be dealt with in a serious matter. It was not uncommon for a rebellious slave to be killed
as a means to prove to other that the slave owner will not tolerate opposition. Slaves were
expected to work in the fields during all daylight hours with little time for breaks and meals.
Douglas speaks of a farm renter named Edward Covey. Covey rented the farm that he ran and
was especially good a “breaking young slaves” (p.50). Area framers would often turn their slaves
over to Covey for a year so that he could break them in. This was time well spent because they
would return to their home plantation ready for work. Occasionally salves are allowed free time
during the year. This time generally spans from Christmas until the New Year begins. This was a
time of dancing, drinking, having foot races, and spending time with family. Douglas believes
that this is a contribution to their enslavement. He explains that “these holidays serve as
conductors, safety-valves, to carry of the rebellious spirit of enslaved humanity” (p. 64-65). Yet
another ploy of the slave masters to allow just enough freedom to reengage the mind and spirit.
White plantation owners of the south strongly resisted the reconstruction and emancipation. This
opposition stemmed primarily from the thought of losing their entire labor source and therefore
suffering financial woes. Some slave owners chose not to tell their slaves about freedom and
often confused situations by claiming guardianship laws for small children or misrepresenting
other events (p.435).
Resistant Slaves
Although some slaves thought very highly of their owners, and would actually debate
over who had the best owner, many defiant slaves chose to fight back. Their lives seemed
hopeless and belonged to someone else. Some would simply give up and wish death over the
torment and bondage of their devalued lives. Douglas provides an example of this in the words
of Henry - “Shoot me, shoot me!” said Henry; “you can’t kill me but once. Shoot, shoot,—and
be damned! I won’t be tied!” (p.77). Douglas also references his own act of resistance by saying:
“I, of course, kept the vow I made after the fight with Mr. Covey, and struck back again,
regardless of consequences; and while I kept them from combining, I succeeded very well; for I
could whip the whole of them, taking them separately” (p.82). African Americans fought hard
for their right to freedom. Early in their efforts groups and societies were formed especially in
larger northern cities like Philadelphia, Boston, Albany, and New York. The streets were often
filled with free blacks and anti-slavery abolitionists conducting public marches and speeches
with the hope to spread the word. Abolitionists like Fredrick Douglas believe that slaves should
be released immediately. Some slaves even sued over their rights. Dred Scott and his wife argued
that “they had been taken into and kept him for years in Illinois, a free state” (p.362). Scott did
not win the case because it was determined that “Scott was not a citizen of the United States or
Missouri, that residence in a free territory did not make Scott free” (p.363).
This ruling
encouraged the Southern slave owners and enraged the northern “free” black communities.
Education became a tremendous factor for the resistant slave. As most know; slaves had very
little education and the majority could not read. Besides, working in the fields all day left little
time for learning and books were prohibited amongst the slave hands. Douglas states that “A
nigger should know nothing but to obey his master” (p.29). Douglas himself was taught to read
by Mrs. Auld. She began by teaching Douglas his A,B,C’s and proceeded to teach him simple
short words. Another avenue for slaves to gain freedom was to escape. Many slaves would lose
their lives for attempting to flee while working in the fields, or in the middle of the night.
Another well organized escape plan was the Underground Railroad. Many put their life on the
line to ensure that slaves were secretly transported. Douglas however expresses that this was a
“positive evil to the slaves remaining” (p.87).
Although the 13th amendment banning slavery in the United States was adopted as part of
our Constitution in 1865, many still view slavery as the underlying source for racial tensions that
have continued to haunt our nation. This continuation of racial conflict is evident based on the
constant struggle for restitution, and the racial equalities that plague our country even today.
Racial tones tend to be handed down from generation to generation so like a disease the past is
continually reinstated to further corrupt our future.
Works Cited
Mary Beth Norton, A People and a Nation, Eight Edition, Vol. 1,
Wadsworth Publushing, 2008.
Douglass, Fredrick. "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave,
Written by Himself.”, 1845.