Definition of Slavery - 1439 Words

The Working Definition of Slavery The issue of slavery has been debated since its early inception. In recent times, there has been considerable debate as to the definition of slavery. Western scholars have attempted to justify slavery of the New World by comparing it to the slavery that existed in Biblical times as well as Greco-Roman and African slavery. Some argue that there can be no international definition of slavery. Others try to define by a few words that apply to every instance of slavery. The only true way to define slavery is according to each society in which it was based. Webster’s dictionary defines slavery submission to a dominating influence or the state of a person who is a chattel of another. Though Webster’s gives†¦show more content†¦The idea of a slave was more lenient; many lived as their masters did. Some acquired substantial amounts of money and became rich and were able to purchase their own slaves. Sometimes the conditions were decent enough that some slaves turned do wn freedom. â€Å"Thus the two realms are very often intertwined in a way that modern westerners may find striking: African slaves may often look to westerners as relatives of the masters, and relatives may sometimes look like slaves. In fact, a person sometimes is both† (Kopytoff) The idea that slaves were treated somewhat as family raises the idea that there must have been some type of respect given to them that masters can see slaves as somewhat one of their own. When a woman is acquired into slavery, they are bought for a special reason, to be a producer of human resources also known as children. They didn’t necessarily have to be used for the master’s purposes but they were sometimes married off to close lineages or other close relatives. â€Å"it (the union between slave and husband) was usually considered a kind of concubinage rather than a marriage†¦Alternatively the patrilineal kin group might wish to simply marry the acquired girl off in the normal way and receive bridewealth for her† (Kpoyoff) A woman slave can somewhat be compared to the practice that was followed in early history when women were given off to be married. They hold most of the same principles and rules, and most of the timesShow MoreRelatedWhat Does Sethe s Definition Of Motherhood Demonstrate About The Institution Of Slavery?1804 Words   |  8 PagesJolie Kemp Mrs. Wagenhals AP English 5/12/16 What does Sethe’s definition of motherhood demonstrate about the institution of slavery? Throughout the novel Beloved, Toni Morrison illustrates how the institution of slavery was not only physically demanding and demeaning, but also psychologically scarring. Morrison does so by demonstrating how Sethe, a former slave, both copes with experiences from her past and struggles to form bonds with family, men and other members of her community, evenRead More Social and Legal Definitions of Slavery Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave3974 Words   |  16 PagesD. Abrahams as a technique of indirect argument or persuasion and a language of implication (Gates 54). Douglass explains, He only can understand the deep satisfaction which I experienced, who has himself repelled by force the bloody arm of slavery (113, chapt. 10). The overt statement describes a unique feeling arisen from relatively unique circumstances; but the implication tacked on to the statement might be phrased as: Such a one is most probably not you, the reader. What is the use ofRead MoreThe Definition of Family in Slave Communities Essay1488 Words   |  6 PagesThe definition of family has changes dramatically over the course of history, especially from culture to culture. It is quite interesting to research the definition of family within slave com munities because the slave definition of family not only changed from plantation to plantation, but also slave to slave. Upon reading the secondary sources, â€Å"The Shaping of the Afro-American Family,† by Steven Mintz, Susan Kellogg, Marriage in Slavery, by Brenda Stevenson, and â€Å"Motherhood in Slavery† byRead MoreAfrican American And Middle Eastern Slavery963 Words   |  4 PagesAmerican and Middle Eastern slavery is to downplay the significance of African societies as major players in the international trade network, while ignoring the slave trade’s effect on cultures throughout Africa. Paul Lovejoy attempts to highlight these connections by examining how the demand for slaves in the export market altered local political economies and drastically changed the practice of slavery throughout Africa. Transformations in Slavery: A History of Slavery in Africa is a synthesis workRead MoreSlavery Is The Most Extreme Form Of Forced Labor Essay1400 Words   |  6 PagesSlavery Whenever we hear the word â€Å"slavery† in the United States, we tend to think of the Southern part of the United States during the Pre-Civil War era. What many people don’t seem to know, is that this horrible act of slavery has occurred worldwide! The term slavery has many different definitions and has occurred all throughout our world history. It wasn’t until the early 18th century that the thought of anti-slavery came out. Many economic, social, and technological forces have played a partRead MoreA Behavioral Analysis Of John Brown s Martyr Or Terrorist1167 Words   |  5 PagesIn â€Å"A Behavioral Analysis of John Brown: Martyr or Terrorist,† James N. Gilbert effectively argues that John Brown’s inhumane actions clearly conform to a modern definition of a domestic terrorist. Gilbert argues that Brown justified his inhumane actions by proclaiming adherence to high political and moral values. Gilbert is a professor and former chair of the depar tment of criminal justice at the University of Nebraska-Kearney who specializes in criminal investigative theory. In fact, Gilbert authoredRead MoreDred Scott V. Sandford1454 Words   |  6 PagesWhen Dred Scott v. Sandford was decided in 1857, it made an enormous impact on the United States. It riled up both pro- and anti-slavery Americans. It angered many Americans in an extreme example of judicial activism. Some say it made the Civil War inevitable. By the time the dust had settled and the 13th and 14th Amendments reversed the Court’s decision, Dred Scott could be considered one of the worst Supreme Court decisions of all time. And yet, although the case was egregiously wrong, it stillRead MoreAnalysis Of Toni Morrison s Beloved1547 Words   |  7 PagesToni Morrison’s Beloved extends beyond a description of individuals held captive by their past through the exploration of human responses to slavery. The manipulation of language and its controlled absence reinforces the mental enslavement that persists after individuals are freed from physical bondage. It is when language is amplified into song that an individual or community may free themselves from the constraints of mental enslavement, therefore enabling their ability to claim ownership of themselvesRead MoreWealth Of Nations By Adam Smith1574 Words   |  7 Pagesassess the morality of these arguments, David Hume’s definition of morality and Kant’s definition of morality can be used. These definitions, ultimately, serve as context for Smith’s arguments, so that there is a clearer idea of whether they are moral or not. From this, modern readers of Smith’s book can better determine the positive and negative qualities of Smith’s idea of free-trade. Kant’s definition of morality contrasts with Hume’s definition. For Kant, morality is split into three categoriesRead MoreFreedom Vs. Free From Oppression1094 Words   |  5 PagesWhile learning world history, there is a point when one encounters the question of freedom. What is freedom? Different meanings are attached to freedom, especially when one questions what exactly they are free from. Free from slavery? Free from dept? Free from oppression? There are so many different types of freedom, that it s hard to just give out a sentence and claim that s freedom . However when looking at America a clear vision of freedom appears and it does so mostly because of its history