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U.S. History I - Slavery and the South

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    Study Guide U.S. History I – Slavery and the South 1. Slave Society and Culture Life for enslaved people in the South varied depending on the size of the plantation, the work assigned, and the master's attitude . • Household slaves, blacksmiths, carpenters, and drivers were generally better off than field hands. • Ultimately, the owner controlled all aspects of a slave’s life , including punishment and privileges. 1.1 Labor and Daily Life • Field work: o Harvest: up to 16 hours/day o Winter: 10+ hours/day o Workweek: 6 days, with a half - day on Saturday • Work organization: o Gang system: groups of ~25 under a driver and overseer o Task system: assigned specific daily jobs • Discipline: o Whippings, extra work, or reduced food rations o Good work could earn extra food, visits to other plantations, or small gardens Clothing and food: • Men: clothes twice a year, shoes once a year • Women: cloth to make dresses and children’s clothing • Food: cornmeal, salt pork or bacon, molasses; sometimes supplemented with fish, game, or vegetables • Housing: one - or two - room dirt - floored cabins; multiple families often shared one cabin • Health: poor diet, hard labor, and lack of medical care contributed to high infant mortality (20%) and shorter life expectancy

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    Study Guide 1.2 Slave Families • Marriage: o No legal standing, but often accepted by planters to reduce escape risk o Could involve “jumping the broom,” a simple agreement, or a formal ceremony o Family separations were common; women faced sexual abuse • Roles: o Husband: provider — fishing, hunting, firewood, cabin maintenance o Wife: child care, cooking, sewing, other domestic chores o Extended family (aunts, uncles, grandparents) helped provide support • Challenges: Despite constant threats to family stability, slaves worked to maintain strong family and community ties 1.3 Religion and Culture • Planters encouraged religion to control slaves, focusing on obedience and morality • Slaves created their own religious practices: o Blended evangelical Christianity and West African traditions o Secret meetings emphasized freedom from bondage o Biblical stories of Moses and the Israelites resonated with the hope for deliverance • Music: o “Negro spirituals” expressed sorrow, family separation, hard labor, and hope for freedom o Whites often misinterpreted singing as contentment, ignoring the deeper meaning

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