Slavery - A Cruel Institution :: Slavery Essays

Slavery as a Cruel Institution Cruelty displace be defined as an inhumane action done to an single(a) or group of people that causes either physical or genial harm. Slavery, at its very core, was a cruel and inhumane institution. From the idea basis it to the way that it was enforced, it degraded the lives of human beings and forbade the basic liberties that every man deserves nether the Constitution of the United States. Three major beas where cruelty was especially customary were in the slaves working conditions, living conditions, and loss of fundamental freedoms. Working conditions for slaves were well-nigh as bad as can possibly be imagined. Slaves worked from break of day till dusk and sometimes even foresightfuler. Solomon Northrup describes his experience as a slave on his Louisiana plantation The hands are unavoidable to be in the cotton field as soon as it is light in the morning and with the exception of ten or 15 minutes, which is given them at noon to swallow th eir allowance of cold bacon, they are not permitted a moment idle until it is too dark to see, and when the lunation is blanket(a), they often times labor till the middle of the night (Northrup 15). The slaves lived in constant fear of punishment while at work, and it was that fear that control them to obey. Northrup continues to say that, "No matter how fatigued and weary he may bea slave never approaches the gin-house with his basket of cotton tho with fear. If it falls short in weightif he has not performed the full task appointed him, he knows he must suffer" (10). He goes on to explain that by and by weighing, "follow the whippings" (10). This was not the end of the work day for a common slave though. Each slave had his or her cause respective chores to do. "One feeds the mules, another the swineanother cuts the wood, and so forth (Northrop 11). accordingly there were jobs to do in the slaves quarters, jobs that were necessary for their basic needs and option Finally, at a late hour, they reach the quarters, sleepy and overcome with the long days toil. Then a fire must be kindled in the cabin, the corn ground in the small hand-mill, and supper, and dinner for the next day in the field prepared (Northrup 12). The slaves got very belittled sleep because, "an hour before day light the horn is blown," and it was "an abomination invariably followed by flogging, to be found at the quarters after daybreak" (Northrup 14).