American slavery: history, impact, and legacy

American Slavery after the Civil War From the Point of View of Freed Slaves

The slave experience in the United States was one of economic necessity to the Southern elite, and that necessity did not change after the Civil War. Although there were no slaves after emancipation, the slaves still had little opportunity to have better opportunities in life. This is reflected in a letter from former South Carolina slaves to Union General O.O. Howard, in which the former slave committee from South Carolina petitions to the General that they must retain their own land or their life will not change and they will remain tied to the land and as the subordinates to the same ruling elite as they had prior to the Civil War. If considering this particular piece of historical evidence within the larger framework of the life experience of an American slave, it is clear that the slaves lived difficult lives with little opportunity for social and economic improvement. Slaves kept this in mind, and thus even after their emancipation they did not expect complete equality. Ultimately, the slave experience in the United States did not change significantly after the Civil War; expectations and expected experiences among former slaves remained similar to those they held during slavery. The slave experience in the United States has been defined historically by their economic necessity to the landowners. Before slaves were imported, these same landowners seized the land from the Native Americans and even tried to enslave the Native Americans (Parent 24). The "emerging elite (would) treat land as a commodity," and such an attitude would have an effect on slaves in the future as land was a commodity because land was the source for the agriculture that would lead to wealth (Parent 25). Ultimately this use of the land would lead the elite to adapt the "headright system" leading the land to be seized by the elite, laying the framework for slavery. As whites were being used as farming servants, it eventually became clear that blacks can make tobacco cheaper than whites and thus began the introduction of slaves in the British colonies (Parent 66). As slaves began to be used in agriculture, their role in the economic system became of utmost importance. Tobacco, for example, was a crop that was sold for very cheap and thus it required cheaper and cheaper labor until that labor was free. The costs of supporting and raising black slave families, which was originally thought of as too high, eventually gave way to the profitability of using free labor. After slaves became the main source of labor, they became the main source of income for elite whites. This resulted in both a coercive economy and a coercive state (Parent 105). Slaves were integral aspects of the economy and the white landowners, who controlled the land, had matching control over the slaves and their lives. The way of life for the white elite was dependent on slave labor, making slaves an economic necessity to the landowners. This necessity would not change simply with emancipation after the Civil War, and this means that the War, while freeing all men, did not necessarily result in a positive change in the way of life for African-Americans in the American South. Because of the slave's value to the American economy, and particular to the elite who ruled the South, the entire slave experience was based on their labor being critically important to the elite. Thus the slave experience and the experience of freemen after the Civil War resulted in little change to the African-American experience. Even though the Civil War freed slaves, it did not improve their social standing. In the letter from the South Carolina former slave committee to O.O. Howard, the former slaves address their desire for their own homesteads as they understand the reality of the situation that without their own land they will be forced to work for the same landowners under poor conditions because of the lack of other opportunities. This means that the former slaves understood their role in the war, and how unimportant they were politically. The former slaves do not ask for much- just small homesteads to be independent farmers- yet this they are not granted, because of their standing in American culture. Slaves, prior to the Civil War, were under complete control of the white authority. These conditions forced a poor quality of life and even obscene treatment towards them. The life of Charles Ball and the sequence of events he had to overcome because of his race is evidence of the conditions existing for African-Americans both prior to and after the Civil War (Ball 1859). Ball documented his life beginning with his father's capture from Africa and subsequent enslavement. As a slave, Ball was separated from his Mother at a young age and eventually from his wife as he was sold to Georgia while she lived in Maryland. This reflects the complete lack of disregard for slave family life which was a characteristic of the slave experience in America. Also in Georgia, Ball was treated with extreme cruelty, yet he could do nothing about it except possibly to escape. Furthermore, Ball was able to escape captivity, twice, and even as a freeman buy his own farm. Yet eventually he and his wife were capture into slavery, reflecting on the nature of the laws towards their treatment of African-Americans. Even freemen were not safe from trouble in the culture in which African-American's were subordinate. Ball maintains that "misery loves company" and that he is a subject to "mutual sufferings," (Ball 277) indicating the conditions he feels exist as a slave. Ultimately, Charles Ball's experience is illustrative of the conditions that exist to slaves, as even when he becomes a freeman he is not entirely free. The aspirations of Charles Ball during slavery and the former slaves in the South Carolina committee are similar- even though one is during and one is after emancipation. As an escaped slave, Charles Ball wants to set up his own homestead, and have his own farm. The same holds true for the South Carolina slaves of the committee, who want land because "we are landless and Homeless." Economic independence, enough for independent survival without relying on white interests, therefore is an apparent desire for African-Americans in the 19th century. Another example of an African making it on his or her own for financial independence is Gustavus Vassa who experienced a difficult life of being cheated and trying to be re- enslaved despite his economic success (Bontemps 1969). Slaves and former slaves faced difficult lives before and after emancipation, and even though they became free, there was little opportunity for improving their economic conditions. Therefore, realizing this, the committee of former slaves in South Carolina wants their own homesteads so they will no longer be at the whim of the ruling white elite. This ruling white elite class treated the slaves poorly before emancipation, and the threat of poor treatment exists after it as well. In the letter, the former slaves write, "the government does so we are left In a more unpleasant condition than our former," meaning that if their homesteads are taken away they will be left in a worse condition as to before the war that supposedly freed them. This, of course, means very bad living conditions. Under slavery, African-Americans were not fed properly as Lewis and Milton Clarke recalled that "we had but two meals a day... of the poorest kind" (Bland 134). Additionally, slaves were whipped to levels of excessive cruelty. In Gustavus Vassa's accounts, "they told me that I must be flogged too. I asked why? And if there was any law for free men?" (Bontempts 1969 p. 122), as in this case he was flogged for being a Negro regardless of being a freeman. This indicates the environment in which slaves lived, which was so poor that even a Negro himself found him being abusive as in the case of Charles Ball. "I not unfrequently found it proper to punish them with stripes to compel them to perform their work," wrote Charles Ball, which shows the hostile culture that the hatred between master and slave bred (Ball 301). Prior to emancipation, the conditions of slaves by numerous accounts made for a bad standard of living. The African- Americans were an oppressed class of people, and there was a threat of oppression even after the Civil War. The former slaves would become bound to the land and serving their former masters, just not in the indirect context of slavery, without their own homesteads. Former slaves have accounted, such as Moses Roper that, "I thought I was free; but learned I was not" (Bland 79), which is the direct threat that former slaves face. As crucial to the economy, the slaves were now free but still lower class. Without their own homesteads, they would be forced to work for their masters, perhaps not under the same severe conditions, but poor conditions nevertheless. "I was made to drink the bitterest dregs of slavery," wrote Frederick Douglas as he describes the horrors in which he had to work in slavery. "We were worked in all weathers... work, work, work, the longest days were too short for him, and the shortest nights too long for him" (Bayliss 57), helping to show what was expected of the slaves. Slaves had to work under horrid conditions as much as possible, and they could not expect these conditions to change if working for their former masters. The former slaves are acutely aware of such risks as they write, "The man who tied me to a tree & gave me 39 lashes" is the man who they will now work for, and that there will be no change. The oppressor, the elite white, will still be oppressing the poor black. "In a Condition of Helplessness," the freed slaves will remain as they will be in debt and under the complete control of their former masters under the guise as free workers. However, there is one threat which they no longer have to face and that is the possibility of being bought and sold and separated from the family. Slaves had "to see his own wife and children sold to the highest bidder," and thus never see his or her family again (Bland 156). This complete loss of freedom did not exist after emancipation, as slaves were now free. But there are numerous reports of slaves being bought and sold from their own family members that this must surely have been a welcomed change. But gaining one small piece of freedom would not mean a change in life, and the Civil War could not improve conditions for former slaves on the much larger scale. Former slaves considered themselves loyal to the Union side of the war, and expect to be rewarded in the smallest form. "Have not for selfish motives allied to us those who suffered like us from a common enemy," the slaves write to O.O. Howard expressing their support for the Union and now they expect to reap some rewards. However, they are excluded from any political influence and appear to be nearing the same situation as prior to the war. Conditions for former slaves are declining; the homesteads immediately given to them are being revoked. With this reversal in the political decision comes more dangers of political repression as perhaps to the former slaves, being recaptured was an actual threat. Previously, even free blacks were unable to be completely free from the possibility of re- enslavement, so being forced to live and work under their old masters would surely lead to a reversal of the positive fortune gained from the Civil War. The former slaves do not have aspirations for equality, or taking over politics, or reversing the social situation. They just want enough of a homestead to make their own living farming and not be a servant to those that were their former oppressors. They do not expect, nor desire much to change; the free slaves just want the power to control their own work, wages, and ultimately their own lives. Without their economic independence, this will be impossible. After the Civil War, former slaves did not have great expectations for an improvement of life. Immediate benefits were to be retracted and there was the looming threat that the white elite would maintain their hold on the lives of the blacks. This is represented in the letter from the former slaves to O.O. Howard as they maintain that they just need their own land, they have done nothing wrong, and without their own land life will become worse than prior to the war. The slaves feel slighted, particular because they have done nothing wrong but continually are treated poorly. Thus the slaves are on the outside of the political arena and it appears although the war was fought largely over slavery, the slaves themselves are of little consequence. "With consideration of esteem Your Obt Servts," they sign the letter, reflecting their position in society as still lowly even to Northerners. Slaves, and now freed Negro's are integral to the economy for the whites, and they are aware of the risks without financial independence. Nevertheless, as a vote less class, former slaves risk falling into servitude again, and they are aware of it. It is in this context, which they are aware of the dangers, that the slaves make their plea to O.O. Howard. The former slaves want something positive to result from the Civil War; they do not want to just fall through the cracks in the political system. As "Landless, Homeless, Voteless," there is little the former slaves can do in the American system, and they want little. They want freedom from their former masters, freedom to farm their own farms, and freedom to make their own life. They know they are of inconsequence to the Union and the politicians in Washington D.C., and thus must accept the very little that has been given to them, which now has been taken away. Works Cited