SLAVERY
What are the common methods that slaves used to resist slavery?
Slaves normally used the following methods to resist slavery:Rebelling against the slaveholders- The famous rebellions that occurred during the slavery period were: Stono Rebellion that occurred in 1839, the Gabriel Prossey’s conspiracy in 1800, Denmark Vesey’s plot that took place in 1822, and Nat Turner rebellion in 1831 (Stowe 34).Running away from the plantations, or from the slave owners
Performing daily acts of resistance such as destroying the machinery in the plantations, working slowly, and feigning sickness
Why was the Stono and Nat Turner rebellion successful, while the other rebellions were unsuccessful?
These two rebellions were planned in a systematic manner, which ensured that the slaves had an element of surprise on the slave owners. For instance, for the Stone rebellion, 20 men gathered near the Stone River from where they proceeded to their attack. These two rebellions were bloody i.e. the rebellious groups killed most of the slave owners that they encountered and freed the slaves. In this process, they were able to recruit more slaves into their rebellion. In the other rebellions, they wanted to create a large group before commencing attacks, and this ensured that their plans were thwarted as other slave members revealed their conspiracies. Such was the case in the Gabriel Prossey's conspiracy in 1800 (History 1).
Why was the Saint Dominque rebellion successful, unlike the ones that took place in the USA?
Two factors played a role in ensuring this rebellion was successful. The first one was that in this region unlike the USA, the plantations were larger. The second reason was that in this region, the slaves outnumbered the whites.
What was the role of religion in the rebellions?
The Gabriel’s rebellion meetings were mostly held during religious meeting and at funerals. During these periods, they devised their plans. Denmark Vesey who was the leader of the Vesey’s rebellion, despite being a free man organized this rebellion because of the Christian beliefs that he held. Nat Turner was a slave preacher, and he believed that he saw miracles. He used his followers to begin the rebellion and they moved from one plantation to the next recruiting other slaves. The Quakers and the Methodists also helped fugitive slaves to escape to Canada during that period (Garraty).
What role did the Underground Railroad play in ending slavery?
This was a vast network of people who helped the slaves escape to the North and eventually into Canada where they could not be returned back to their slave owners. It consisted of many individuals i.e. both whites and African Americans who used different methods, and routes to help slaves escape from the south.
Who was Harriet Tubman, and what role did she play in helping slaves escape from the south?
Although born as a slave, Tubman became a fugitive slave who helped other slaves (first her relatives and then other slaves) escape from the south and into Canada.
How did these acts contribute to the end of slavery?
They showed the sufferings that …
