Slavery in the South

Quick Facts 3 million slaves in the U.S. in 1850 Slaves are property. They can be bought and sold like any item. Slaves have NO LEGAL RIGHTS under the law.

Life as a Slave Most slaves worked on plantations as field hands. Others worked in their master’s home as cooks, maids, or butlers. On small farms, masters and slaves worked together in the fields. Large plantation owners hired overseers to supervise the slaves.

Harsh Realities Slaves could be bought or sold at will by their masters. whipped or punished for misbehavior. Fugitive slaves had to avoid slave catchers.

Abolitionists Abolition = ending slavery Ministers, merchants, free African-Americans, etc. in the North (mostly). Held meetings and ran newspapers calling for slavery’s end. Leaders include Frederick Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison, and Sojourner Truth

“Underground Railroad” Secret network of abolitionists who helped slaves escape north. “Conductors” hid slaves in “stations” (basements, attics, sheds, barns, etc.). As many as 100,000 slaves may have used the “Railroad” to escape. Harriet Tubman helped over 300 slaves to freedom this way.

Answer these questions on an index card: Before you go… Answer these questions on an index card: What were conditions like for Southern slaves? What were the responses to slavery from Northerners?