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African American History: Slavery In The North And South

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Lily Vidot John Gaines African American History before 1877 20 August 2015 18th Century Slavery in the North and South Slavery during the 18th century in the North and South became a part of the normal culture. In the North, having a slave was equivalent to having a household maid. In the South, having a slave was equivalent to a machine that did free labor for you. It is during this time, one was able to see the distinct difference in the way of life between the North and the South. The North did not have any economic justification when it comes to their slaves. The North focused more on the industrial side of things more than the agricultural side. Slaves in the North were referred to as domesticated. Slaves performed the duties of servants, …show more content…

The South depended more on the agricultural side than industrial. Due, to the high demand of crops the needs for labor in the south were high. “As more and more cotton lands came under cultivation, especially in Mississippi and Texas, the demand for slaves boomed (Slavery in the North," 2000).” It is said that the plantation system would crash if there was not free labor. Southern slaves had it way worse than those in the North. Southern slaves did not only perform domestic duties but they performed hard labor. This hard labor was considered field work. “The hands are required to be in the cotton field as soon as if is light in the morning (Slavery in the North, 2000).” Southern slaves would work in the fields farming crops like sugar, rice, corn and most importantly cotton. After the invention of the cotton gin, the South’s economy depended on cotton and this caused for an increase need of laborers. Plantation owners forbid slaves from learning to read and write. They did not want slaves to be educated because they wanted them to continue to be their free labor; leaving many slaves in the south uneducated. Contrary to the North only housing about two slaves per house hold; there were hundreds of slaves living on a plantation at one …show more content…

Slaves endured long days farming especially in the cotton season. They were forbidden literacy and even the right to be free at first. Even the slaves that were able to flee to the North were not safe. After the Fugitive Slave Act was passed, many freed persons were illegally kidnapped and dragged back to work on the plantations in the South. Slavery in the North during the 18th century was not as tough as in the South. Slaves were tasked with domestic duties such as servants, valets and being able to be merchants. Slave owners in the North also taught their slaves how to read and right. Owners even went to the extent of giving their slaves allowance to purchase goods. Though, they are some differences between slavery in the North and South; these slaves endured conditions that one could not

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