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Slavery in Early America
Deanna's Question: In what ways did gender play a part in early American slavery?
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Slavery in Early America
Deanna's Question: In what ways did gender play a part in early American slavery?
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Slaves were not only discriminated because of color, but by gender as well. Men were given harsher chores and women were just expected to have children so their masters could have more "property". If we look into our Auctions section above, we learn that men and women were tied differently. Men were chained in heavy metal and women were merely tied together with a few ropes. Women weren't thought of as strong people who could break free of light ropes if they had a chance. Though men and women were looked at differently, they were all seen as pieces of property that someone could own. They were equally punished, equally hurt, and equally killed. Men and women together tried escaping their cruel lives with only some succeeding. Harriet Tubman was a brave and respected woman who saved many slaves from their tough labor. She led a system of routes known as the Underground Railroad, and rescued many families from lives in slavery. She and many other females worked hard to set things straight. In another example, a couple disguised themselves to seek freedom. Together, they convinced the world that they were an average white master with a slave. Even though men and women were treated differently, women still made a large impact on the hopeful abolishment of slavery. With everyone working together, some of impossible became possible.
Gianna's Question: Why didn't the African slaves go on strike together and fight against their owners and colonists?
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Gianna's Paragraph
Slaves were unable to go on strike and stand up for themselves for several reasons. Firstly, after being sold slaves had little connections with other slaves on different properties. Slaves were considered their owners' "property" and could only go where their owners told them they could. With no to little connections with their fellow slaves, slaves had no way of communicating with each other to start this strike. Secondly, slaves had no rights and could always be replaced to the colonists. If a slave disobeyed his/her owner he/she would experience several physical punishments. There was also not enough slaves to go against the colonists and if they did the colonists could always just get a new slave. Lastly, slaves had nothing to protect themselves with. The colonists had all the guns and weapons, so if the slaves and colonists were to fight against each other the slaves would have nothing to fight with. These are just a few of the reasons why slaves were unable to go on strike and fight against their owners and colonists.