The Evolution of Slavery

Paper Summary:

This paper introduces, discusses, and analyzes the topic of slavery in the United States. Specifically, the paper describes and explains the evolution of slavery in the country, especially during Reconstruction after the Civil War.

From the Paper:

"Just before the Civil War, slaves began to fight for their freedom in rebellions such and John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry, that killed many whites, and people in the South began to openly fear the slaves, and they attempted to create more controls for them. "This near hysteria was accompanied by a crackdown on slaves and free blacks, backed by new laws and imposed by state and local authorities, as well as by a resurgence of vigilante activity" (Parish 150). This led to more distrust between blacks and whites, and even more mistrust in their relationships. Whites clearly had the power, and used it to make sure slaves were completely under their control. Slave marriages were not legal, families could be separated at a moment's notice, and often slaveowners were extremely violent with their slaves, beating them and even killing them for the slightest infraction. The relationship between blacks and whites had deteriorated into a relationship based on power and racism, and this would continue even after the Civil War ended and Reconstruction began."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Davis, Ronald L.F. "Slavery in America: Historical Overview." SlaveryinAmerica.org. 2008. 3 April 2008. <http://www.slaveryinamerica.org/history/hs_es_overview.htm>
• Editors. "Slavery." PBS.org. 2008. 3 April 2008. <http://www.pbs.org/wnet/slavery/>
• Parish, Peter J. Slavery: History and Historians. 1st ed. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1989.

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