Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work even against their will. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation. 

What is slavery?

Job Description of a Slave

Sex – Male or FemaleAge – Any age; from 4 until death

Characteristics – Poor and vulnerable; prisoners

captured in tribal wars; Africans captured by European slave

traders.Hours – up to 20 a day, sometimes

more.Days / Week – up to 7, 365 days a

year.Holidays – None

Sick Leave – NoneHealth and safety provision – None

Pay – NothingAccommodation – Very basic

OriginSlavery has existed since the beginning of human history.People were enslaved for a number of reasons some of which include :being captured in battle, owing a debt or being born to slave parents.The word “slave” comes from the Slavic people of eastern Europe who were conquered so often that the their name became synonymous with servitude.Most cultures around the world have practiced slavery in one form or another.

Once sold, a slave must live and journey to where ever his /her master demands . This leads to forced migration.

This is where the trouble for the African slave trade began.

Slaves were packed tightly on ships, shackled and fed very little for the 3-5 month journey.

About 18 million Africans were transported between 1600 and 1800, with about 3 million dying on the way.

The African slaves were taken out of their land and away from all that they were familiar with.

This confused them so much that they didn’t know how to protest!

This trade proved to be so lucrative, that Tribes were encouraged to battle and war with each other, so that a constant supply of slaves to the white slave traders

Most succumbed to the journey and the climatic differences

Those who survived gradually adapted to their masters religion and language

Shackled , they spent their entire lives following instructions and serving their owners with their body and soul.

They needed permission to marry.

They had to beg their owners that they could keep their children

They often had to watch their sons and daughter being sold off to settle their owners debts.

A few instances of how they were dragged into slavery

One evening , a Negro was invited to drink with some of the black traders. They attempted to seize him. As he was very active, he evaded their trap, and got out of their hands. He was, however, prevented from effecting his escape by a large dog, which laid hold of him, and compelled him to submit. These creatures are kept by many of the traders for that purpose; and being trained to the inhuman sport, they appear to be much pleased with it.

A man and his son, according to their own information, were seized by professed kidnappers, while they were planting yams, and sold for slaves. This likewise happened in the interior parts of the country, and after pass ing through several hands, they were purchased for the ship. 

A black trader invited a Negro, to come and see him. After the entertainment was over, the trader proposed to his guest, to treat him with a sight of one of the ships lying in the river. The unsuspicious countryman readily accompanied the trader in a canoe to the side of the ship, which he viewed with pleasure and astonishment. While he was thus employed, some black traders on board, who appeared to be in the secret, leaped into the canoe, seized the unfortunate man, and dragged him into the ship. He was immediately sold.

Warning issued to Blacks

Preparations made by the traders to sell off the slaves

The preparations made at Bonny by the black traders, are very considerable. From 20 to 30 canoes, capable of containing 30 or 40 Negroes each, are assembled for this purpose; and the bought slaves are packed inside.When their loading is completed, they commence their voyage, with colours flying, and music playing; and in about ten or eleven days, they generally return to Bonny with full cargoes. As soon as the canoes arrive at the trader's landing place, the purchased Negroes are cleaned, and oiled with palm-oil; and on the following day they are exposed for sale to the captains.

Advertisements for sale

When the Negroes, whom the black traders have to dispose off, are shown to the European purchasers, they first examine them relative to their age. They then minutely inspect them and inquire into the state of their health, if they are deformed, or have bad eyes or teeth; if they are lame, or weak in their joints, or distorted in the back, or of a slender make, so as to render them incapable of much labour; they are rejected. But if approved of, they are generally taken on board the ship the same evening. The purchaser has liberty to return on the following morning, but not afterwards.

Slave Market

Life in the Plantation

Escape Stories

Reward announcements for run away slaves

End of Slavery

Growth of

abolition

movement,

18th

century

1807,

Britain

declares

slave trade

illegal

1808, USA

declare

s

slave tr

ade

illegal

1833,

slavery

declared

illegal across

the British

Empire1861 – 1865

American Civil War