Slavery: A Life of Hardships Slavery: A Life of Hardships

ObjectiveObjective

The students should be able to explain The students should be able to explain what the African Americans life was like what the African Americans life was like during Slavery.during Slavery.

SlaverySlavery

Slaves were given no luxury items.Slaves were given no luxury items.

A luxury item for a slave could be a wish A luxury item for a slave could be a wish for a bed.for a bed.

SlaverySlavery

Each year the slaves were given…Each year the slaves were given…Two linen shirtsTwo linen shirtsTwo pairs of trousersTwo pairs of trousersOne jacketOne jacketA pair of socksA pair of socksA pair of shoesA pair of shoesAn overcoatAn overcoatA wool hat A wool hat

SlaverySlavery

Each month a slave house would also Each month a slave house would also receive…receive…

CornmealCornmealSalt herringSalt herringEight pounds of pork or fishEight pounds of pork or fish

SlaverySlavery

Slave masters did not believe that a slave Slave masters did not believe that a slave owned his or her life, but behind their owned his or her life, but behind their backs the slaves lived their own lives.backs the slaves lived their own lives.

Slaves made friends, fell in love, played, Slaves made friends, fell in love, played, prayed, sang, told stories, did the sewing, prayed, sang, told stories, did the sewing, cleaning the house, cooking, and tending cleaning the house, cooking, and tending to the small garden plots they were to the small garden plots they were allowed to have.allowed to have.

SlaverySlavery

The two most The two most important things to important things to the slaves lives were the slaves lives were their families and their families and their religion.their religion.

Slave FamiliesSlave Families

Many slave families faced the problem of stability.Many slave families faced the problem of stability. There was no state law that recognized the There was no state law that recognized the

marriage among slaves, the masters rather than marriage among slaves, the masters rather than the parent had legal authority over slave children, the parent had legal authority over slave children, and the possibility of sales.and the possibility of sales.

Slave ReligionSlave Religion

The slaves stayed with their native The slaves stayed with their native religion.religion.

Most slave owners did not convert their Most slave owners did not convert their slaves to Christianity because they feared slaves to Christianity because they feared that the converted slaves would have to be that the converted slaves would have to be freed.freed.

Slaves HousesSlaves Houses

Usually the houses were wooden shacks Usually the houses were wooden shacks with dirt floors.with dirt floors.

Sometimes they were made of boards Sometimes they were made of boards nailed up with cracks nailed up with cracks

stuffed with rags.stuffed with rags. A house would holdA house would hold

up to a dozen slavesup to a dozen slaves

Slaves bedsSlaves beds

The slaves beds were usually collected The slaves beds were usually collected pieces of straw or grass and some old pieces of straw or grass and some old rags.rags.

Each slave would receive only one thin Each slave would receive only one thin blanket. blanket.

Slave ChildhoodSlave Childhood

12 months old: A child's mother could be sold.12 months old: A child's mother could be sold. 4 years old: Worked as a babysitter4 years old: Worked as a babysitter 5 years old: Carried water to the slaves working 5 years old: Carried water to the slaves working

on the fieldon the field 8 years old: Worked out on the fields.8 years old: Worked out on the fields.

PunishmentsPunishments

Punishments for a slave consist of…Punishments for a slave consist of… Slaves could be killed for murder, burglary, and assault Slaves could be killed for murder, burglary, and assault

on a white person.on a white person. Some slave owners would put nails in a barrel sticking Some slave owners would put nails in a barrel sticking

out on the inside then put the slave in it and roll him or out on the inside then put the slave in it and roll him or her down a very steep hill.her down a very steep hill.

PunishmentsPunishments

Others would smoke their slaves: this involved Others would smoke their slaves: this involved whipping them and then sticking them in a whipping them and then sticking them in a tobacco smokehouse.tobacco smokehouse.

Getting beaten with a chair, broom, tongs, Getting beaten with a chair, broom, tongs, shovel, shears, knife handles, the heavy end of shovel, shears, knife handles, the heavy end of a women's shoe, and a club was also a a women's shoe, and a club was also a popular punishment.popular punishment.