Slave Labor
Definition
Slave labor refers to work performed by enslaved individuals against their will under threat of punishment. In American history, it was primarily used in agriculture - particularly in Southern states' plantation economies.
Analogy
Imagine being forced to play a game you don't want to play without any breaks or rewards - that's what slave labor was like. Enslaved people were forced into hard physical labor with no pay or rights while plantation owners reaped all benefits.
Related terms
Middle Passage: The part of trade where Africans were densely packed onto ships and transported across Atlantic Ocean to West Indies/Caribbean Islands/Americas; many died due to horrific conditions.
Abolitionism: Movement aiming at ending slavery; abolitionists believed slavery was morally wrong and fought for its eradication.
Fugitive Slave Act: Laws passed by the United States Congress in 1793 and 1850 to provide for the return of slaves who escaped from one state into another state or territory.
"Slave Labor" appears in:
Subjects (1)
Study guides (1)
Practice Questions (4)
- Which innovation played a significant role in making slave labor more profitable during the era of Spanish colonialism?
- Which colony region was most influenced by West African culture due to slave labor?
- Who invented a device that revolutionized cotton production and increased demand for slave labor?
- Which invention increased cotton production and its demand for slave labor in southern states?
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