Three Effective Ways that Slaves Escaped Slavery

Slavery have been a great part of history. The first slaves to arrive in North America came in 1619 to Virginia. The slaves were known to be African, and they were used for long term labor mostly in the southern regions of the United States. They were miss treated and sold as possessions giving them no value because of their race. Through those times, slaves found many ways to resist slavery. The consequence of this resistance didnt end well for many, and the result was the executions of these slaves that did resist. Some of the ways that slaves resisted slavery include acts of rebellion, running away, and many other ways.

History reveals some of the most prominent slave revolts of the 1800s (Partcities Bristol). The Nat Tuners Rebellion in 1831 is one example. This revolt, out of many, was very successful although many white land owners were able to derail other rebellions before they could happen. This rebellion achieved the fear of many southerners, and portrayed the idea that slavery was in fact benevolent. Slave owners were also affected, in fact, they were portrayed as ruthless and violent as well as some being kind and well-intentioned. This uprising in Virginia clearly revealed that slaves wanted their freedom.

The Nat Turners Rebellion 1831 arose from a man named Nat Turner (Doc South). He believed, as an adult, he was to attack the institution of slavery. The rebellion began in February 1831 when Turner saw a sign which was an eclipsed sun he gathered followers and planned. The rebellion lead to the murder of many southern whites. This was the ultimate result of the resistance of slaves in the 1800s. This rebellion, by the time it was finished, had 60 men as followers of Turner. The total effectiveness of this resistance was producing fear in white slave owners, so that they would understand that the slaves also wanted freedom and more benefits for their hard labor.

Runaway slaves had one ultimate goal, and this was to find freedom even if it meant to stay hidden. Continuing the line of the 1800s, in 1848 a man by the name of Henry Brown wanted freedom any way he could get it. As an example in history, he escaped in 1849 in a crate that carried him for 27 long hours to New England although not all slaves were this successful. Slaves would not only run away for freedom but also in fear of punishment for disobeying the masters rules. This story doesnt just end here.

The most interesting fact is that most slaves didnt run away for permanent slavery but for a way to with hold labor to be able to bargain and negotiate economic struggles. They bargained the amount of free time they were able to enjoy, monetary rewards, access to garden plots, and other rights. Slaves later got the rights they longed for though the emancipation proclamation of Lincoln. Although Lincoln believed that blacks and whites were equal, he didnt think that they deserved the same political and social rights as whites. The emancipation didnt free all the slaves, but in fact it freed slaves in certain states.

Therefore, slaves did achieve success in this as well even though it was in the long run.
Slaves continued to show their great strength and determination to achieve freedom, but its interesting to see that women also were involved. It is amazing to read about pregnant women would kill their own new born, so that a new slave would not be born into the world. This was a way of depriving slave owners of having another slave for labor. Another way that women slaves showed their resistance was by having extraordinary knowledge about medicine, and they used this skill against slave owners in such a way that it made the slave owners fearful that their food might be poisoned. This knowledge gave these women a sense of power.

The effectiveness of slave resistance ended many lives with harsh and brutal punishment; these forms of resistance eventually granted them the freedom they deserved. Even though the true freedom they hoped for didnt really occur until Martin Luther King Jr gave his very famous speech. Even today racism is still seen, but not only for African Americas but for other ethnicities as well. This topic sure has sparked many controversial issues between the races.  

Cite this page