Question/Problem 1: What was life like for slaves in the United States prior to the Civil War?

Slave Labor

The following describes what it was like to work on a cotton plantation.

In the latter part of August begins the cotton picking season. At this time each slave is presented with a sack. A strap is fastened to it, which goes over the neck, holding the mouth of the sack breast high, while the bottom reaches nearly to the ground. Each one is also presented with a large basket that will hold about two barrels. This is to put the cotton in when the sack is filled. The baskets are carried to the field and placed at the beginning of the rows. 'When a new hand, one unaccustomed to the business, is sent for the first time into the field, he is whipped up smartly, and made for that day to pick as fast as he can possibly. At night it is weighed, so that his capability in cotton picking is known. He must bring in the same weight each night following. If it falls short, it is considered evidence that he has been laggard, and a greater or less number of lashes is the penalty...'

'The day's work over in the field, the baskets are 'toted' or in other words, carried to the gin-house, where the cotton is weighed. No matter how fatigued and weary he may be--no matter how much he longs for sleep and rest-- a slave never approaches the gin-house with his basket of cotton but with fear. If it falls short in weight-- if he has not performed the full task appointed him, he knows that he must suffer. And if he has exceeded it by ten or twenty pounds, in all probability his master will mea sure the next day's task accordingly. So whether he has too little or too much, his approach to the gin-house is always with fear and trembling. Most frequently they have too little, and therefore it is they are not anxious to leave the field. After weighing, follow the whippings; and then the baskets are carried to the cotton house, and their contents stored away like hay, all hands being sent in to tramp it down. If the cotton is not dry, instead of taking it to the gin-house at once, it is laid upon platforms, two feet high, and some three times as wide, covered with boards or planks, with narrow walks running between them.'

'This done, the labor of the day is not yet ended, by any means. Each one must then attend to his respective chores. One feeds the mules, another the swine--another cuts the wood, and so forth; besides, the packing is all done by candle light. Finally , at a late hour, they reach the quarters, sleepy and overcome with the long day's toil.'

From Walter Goodman, Black Bondage--The Life of Slaves in the South, pp. 19-21.