Lexington Kentucky

Category: Residence

What are some of the hardships and punishments that slaves were faced with?

Slaves were born with no rights and as such had to endure many hardships. When a slave was born they did not belong to their parents but instead belonged to the master of the plantation. Because of this children could and would seperated from their parents and sold to another plantation. Husbands and wives also often seperated.
Slaves were forced to work whether they were sick or sore and were often punished for not working fast enough or picking enough cotton. This punishment was often a crack of the whip but depending on the severity of the 'crime', punishments would increase. Slaves could also be punished by witholding food, prohibiting visits with other slaves and even selling the slave to another plantation.
Slaves were faced with nights of hunger after little and inadequate food. Because of this diet and working from sunrise to sunset most slaves died before they reached the age of 60.