HIS-121
Slave Narrative Essay
Georgia Military College
HIS-121-20107, American History I
Slave Narrative
Essay
Slavery was a dominant part of the southern states throughout the 17th and 18th
centuries until it was abolished after the Civil War. Many plantation owners looked towards
slaves to increase profit while reducing the cost of paying wages like they did with indentured
servants. The enslaved men and women faced some of the harshest conditions and were
routinely abused or killed to make sure they did not consider revolting against the slave
owners. While farm work was not specific for men or women slaves, the physical farm labor
was typically given to the males, and women were forced into domestic tasks such as cooking,
cleaning, sewing, and childcare.
The family dynamic for slaves was unique, to say the least. Slaves were unable to
legally marry but instead formed unions between men and women. Sometimes it was
encouraged by the owners for the slaves to "marry," and others would force two slaves into a
union. It was also not uncommon for the couple to have two different owners and be
separated by miles on distant plantations. Families would be forced to deal with the
possibility of being sold or having their children sold to different owners and never seeing
them again. Women were forced into continuing their duties shortly after giving birth and
having to work while another slave was tasked with caring for all the children. Another threat
for the women, specifically, was sexual exploitation. Due to the regard of slaves as property,
the rape of a slave was treated more on the lines of trespassing rather than rape. This made
things troublesome for the husband of the victim as well because any retaliation would likely
Slave Narrative Essay
Georgia Military College
HIS-121-20107, American History I
Slave Narrative
Essay
Slavery was a dominant part of the southern states throughout the 17th and 18th
centuries until it was abolished after the Civil War. Many plantation owners looked towards
slaves to increase profit while reducing the cost of paying wages like they did with indentured
servants. The enslaved men and women faced some of the harshest conditions and were
routinely abused or killed to make sure they did not consider revolting against the slave
owners. While farm work was not specific for men or women slaves, the physical farm labor
was typically given to the males, and women were forced into domestic tasks such as cooking,
cleaning, sewing, and childcare.
The family dynamic for slaves was unique, to say the least. Slaves were unable to
legally marry but instead formed unions between men and women. Sometimes it was
encouraged by the owners for the slaves to "marry," and others would force two slaves into a
union. It was also not uncommon for the couple to have two different owners and be
separated by miles on distant plantations. Families would be forced to deal with the
possibility of being sold or having their children sold to different owners and never seeing
them again. Women were forced into continuing their duties shortly after giving birth and
having to work while another slave was tasked with caring for all the children. Another threat
for the women, specifically, was sexual exploitation. Due to the regard of slaves as property,
the rape of a slave was treated more on the lines of trespassing rather than rape. This made
things troublesome for the husband of the victim as well because any retaliation would likely
