Slave Resistance Essay Research Paper AfricanAmerican History

Slave Resistance Essay, Research Paper

African-American History Ever since the practice of slave trade existed in the new world, there have always been forms of slave resistance. Ranging from violent uprisings to more passive forms of slave disobedience. There are several major slave rebellions that are worth noting in the struggle against tyranny. However, more commonly, the average slave made subtle attempts to undermine the master and the slave system. The region of slavery also contributed to the form of slave resistance. This is true for different regions of the United States as well as when comparing the North America and Latin America. The slaves overall experience of resistance as well as the conduct of disobedience differed from slave to slave and region to region. Throughout the history of slave rebellions, the first occurred in 1712 in New York. This uprising proved to be more harmful considering the changes in public code that resulted. For instance persons of color gathering in a group of three of more could yield forty lashes punishment for each involved. It also dubbed some felonious offenses committed by slaves punishable by death. This incident is important because it leads to distinction of color in the law. In a 1739 slave rebellion in South Carolina sixty people were killed. Of those sixty, two-thirds were black. This attempted insurrection created an unsafe feeling among the white minority. Harsh laws were passed to discourage further rebellions. The changes included the establishment of local militias to monitor any tomfoolery by slaves. So now when a slave is caught, the community could hold a public hanging, which proved disconcerting for potential runaways. Also, the idea began to catch on that being brutally violent towards slaves created more dissidence. So lawmakers agree on outlawing harsh treatment. The only upside was the establishment of black churches. At church, they were allowed to congregate, sing, collaborate, and maybe attempt to learn how to read. Churches were definitely important as the centers where more advance forms of slave disobedience could take root. All of this anti-slave legislation was codified in the Negro Acts of 1740. This was the grass roots of the institution of slavery in the United States. It is important to consider that nearly all the rebellions were not successful in any military consideration. Mostly the attempts were a testament to the undying desire for freedom. The attempts of Gabriel Prosser and Denmerk Vescey were both thwarted by government informants. However their death followed in spirit of David Walker s call for courage, Kill or be killed . His appeal called for violent revolution for the obtainment of freedom. Walker also inspired the bloodiest and largest revolt. In 1831, a faith inspired preacher, named Nat Turner, started implementing Walker s violent policy. He began his revolt by killing his master and his white family. He continued his assault on many whites while en route to Jerusalem, Virginia. As more joined the mob they began to lose control. After killing 67 whites the rebellion was quelled by the Virginia State Militia. The institution of slavery had no insurrections that created major damage to the structure of society until the Civil War. Perhaps passive slave disobedience was the most successful form of undermining the system. The life of a slave was never good. Every slave could be subjected to beatings. Their situation was a two-headed coin. You re damned if you do, you re damned if you don t. With this in mind, the ideas of passive disobediences take root. For instance say some slave fakes a sickness. Either two things could happen, you could fool the slave master or you could get beaten. It is important to realize that the consequences for all disobedience could result in beating or death. The riskiest form of non-violent disobedience was running away. The flight to freedom was dangerous and unlikely but to the slave who didn t care anymore; the consequences became ignored. Often when runaways were caught they were killed to set an example. Another common aforementioned method was pretending to be sick. Which rarely worked unless the slave showed signs of obvious pain. Another form of non-violent disobedience was the breaking of farm tools and other equipment. Some slaves went as far as burning barns and buildings. The stealing of food and clothes proved to be out of necessity for the underfed and unclothed slaves. The disobedience that proved most threatening to the institution and fundamentals of slavery was the slaves learning to read. Literate slaves were illegal. Some were taught by their masters but most learned within the confines of the Bible. Literacy enabled persons like Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth to disillusion the subhuman tenant that was fundamental to slavery s principles. There were a few violent means of disobedience that occurred on the local scale but differ from the large physical uprisings like Nat Turner s. House slaves in the preparation of food could slip some lethal poison in to the Dinner meal. Another violent act was the slaughter of cattle. Slaves would be motivated to do this either to obtain much needed food or to hurt the master s profits. Finally, some mothers practiced the method of mercy killing. Often parents would agree that the child was better of not ever having to be subjected to the horrors of slave life.

Slave disobedience differed