9781422274217

pick the cotton. As a result, the number of slaves in the cotton- producing areas of the Deep South grew. THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SOUTHERN SLAVES While slavery became more popular and economical, the truth is that it may have led to worsened conditions for those forced into labor. Misinformation and misunderstanding of those who were not white developed during this time period as well, leading to dangerous and deadly conditions at times. Slaves suffered tremendously at the hands of their owners, and medical care was scant. As a result, enslaved workers died from a wide variety of conditions, from childbirth complications to infections caused by shackles and other forms of punishment. Medical professionals would often even experiment on slaves, putting them in their own wards or hospitals. Quality of life also decreased when conditions became more crowded. In addition to poor treatment from slave owners, slaves also had to contend with harsh working conditions, meager nutrition, and emotional distress. For example, mothers and their children could be separated without a moment’s notice. As a result, slaves would be forced to hide their children from their owners. A GROWING PROBLEM Slaves were beginning to make up a significant portion of the population in some of the bigger cities in the southern states. The growing proportion of slaves was becoming impossible to ignore by the time the Civil War broke out, and the restless nature of slaves who were focused on abolishing the practice was increasingly prominent as well. Between the 1830s and 1860s, abolitionists took many steps toward abolishing slavery. Frederick Douglass and author Harriet Beecher Stowe both wrote books that established sympathy toward slaves. Douglass gave a speech in which he stated, “No man can

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Overview of Plantation Slavery