1. The 1713/14 law limits slaves’ freedom. They are deprived of a right to move around the country without special permission; they cannot trade or have any property. In other words, this law makes the control over slaves stronger.
2. The 1751 law is created to prevent disorder and riots. Slaves are prohibited from gathering in groups of more than five so masters are worried that slaves may conspire against them.
3. Both these laws are concerned about masters’ safety and well-being. Slaves are absolutely dependent on their masters. Even if they are freed, masters should support them. No master has interest in it.
4. Act X prohibits Africans from having weapons and the following equipment. As in the previous cases, it ensures masters’ security.
5. Act III states that baptism has no connection with a person’s status. Although freedom is a Christian virtue, baptism cannot help a slave become a free man. Even if a slave has been baptized, he or she still remains a slave.
6. Act I draws a line between Christian and non-Christian countries. It says that all servants who are taken from the second group of counties are considered slaves in the United States.
7. Sewall thinks that slavery is a bad thing because, according to the religion, all people are sons of Adam. We are equal by birth and we all have equal rights including freedom. Slavery, Sewall writes, is therefore unnatural.
8. Sewall’s second objection is connected with an opinion that Africans have constant wars and their captives become slaves therefore everything is fair. However, wars are unfair by their nature. When people take slaves, they use these wars for their own benefit.
9. Byrd writes about his meals and daily activities. He eats meat and drinks milk. He also prays. He wants us to think of him as a very religious man who lives according to Christian virtues.
10. Byrd is cruel to his slaves. He punishes them almost every day. He mostly uses whip but once he made a man drink urina when that man wetted himself in bed.
11. As a good Christian and a good man, I say that slaves lead an evil life without supervision. They are unfaithful to their wives and they conceal each other’s sins. If we give such people freedom, they will destroy our country.
Primary Source Discussion 2
1. “Drapetomania” combines “runaway slave” and “crazy”, or “mad”. Cartwright thinks that slaves avoid service because they have a mental disease. Fortunately, it can be cured.
2. Cartwright is sure that black people were created by God to be slaves. As a doctor, the author proves it anatomically. When on his own, a black slave cannot do anything except for being lazy.
3. This idleness can be cured with the help of physical labour. Lungs let more oxygen in and out; blood circulates actively and carbon comes out of his body.
4. White and black people were created differently by God. Freedom is a virtue of white people but it is a disaster for black ones.
5. Fitzhugh describes the South as a quiet and prosperous place. There are no strikes or riots. The South produces commodities for the whole country.
6. In the North, there are a few millionaires who control everything. In the South, wealth is distributed more equally. People value relationships and hospitality. People of the North value only money.
7. Slavery makes the society and economy stable. People are more hard-working and active. They appreciate what they have and pay attention to morality. Without slavery, everyone would be concerned only about money.
8. The Yeomen are courageous; they are both good warriors and good plowmen. These people are usually poor. They rarely have slaves. The richest Yeomen own no more than 10-15 slaves.
9. A Yeomen farmer is rather a companion and a supervisor. He works with his slaves. They reap a harvest in summer and have fun in winter together.
10. Slavery is a necessary condition for the South. This is how the society is organized. People in the North cannot understand it because their conditions are different.
11. The first part of documents is connected with religion and morals. In the second group, the arguments change. Economy as a ground for slavery is used much wider than religion. The justification for slavery is logical, scientific and even medical.
Works Cited
"An Act for Regulating of Slaves." Web. 04 Feb. 2016. <http://njlegallib.rutgers.edu/slavery/acts/A13.html>.
Hoffman, Elizabeth Cobbs, Edward J. Blum, and Jon Gjerde. "Southern Author Daniel Hundley Robinson." Major Problems in American History. 3rd ed. Vol. 1. 365-66. Print.
Hoffman, Elizabeth Cobbs, Edward J. Blum, and Jon Gjerde. "Virginian George Fitzhugh Argues That Slavery Is a Positive Good That Improves Society, 1854."Major Problems in American History. 3rd ed. Vol. 1. 362-63. Print.
Hoffman, Elizabeth Cobbs, Edward J. Blum, and Jon Gjerde. "Samuel Cartwright, a Southern Doctor, Theorizes About the Peculiar Diseases of Slaves, 1851." Major Problems in American History. 3rd ed. Vol. 1. 360-62. Print.
Hoffman, Elizabeth Cobbs, Edward J. Blum, and Jon Gjerde. "Southern Planter William Byrd Describes His Views Toward Learning and His Slaves, 1709-1710."Major Problems in American History. 3rd ed. Vol. 1. 44-45. Print.
"The Selling of Joseph: A Memorial." MHS Collections Online. Web. 04 Feb. 2016. <http://www.masshist.org/database/viewer.php?item_id=53>.
"Colonial Laws." PBS. Africans in America. Web. 04 Feb. 2016. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part1/1h315t.html>.
