Willis's picturesque 1859 account of slave life titled negro happiness in virginia
Answers
Answered by
0
Virginia’s 550,000 slaves constituted one third of the state’s population in 1860. In some eastern counties, slaves were the majority. In the western counties, rugged terrain made slavery impractical. In 1829, citizens there demanded representation in a government controlled by easterners with different interests. In 1861, they chose to form West Virginia rather than join the Confederacy.
Slave Life on the Plantation
The majority of enslaved men, women, and children provided agricultural labor. Trained craftsmen provided such services as blacksmithing and carpentry, while a smaller group of men and women served the needs of the planter’s family. On Sundays, slaves tended to their own gardens and livestock provided by the owners, practiced religion, and engaged with family and friends.
Through their families, religion, folklore, and music, as well as more direct forms of resistance, African Americans resisted the debilitating effects of slavery and created a vital culture supportive of human dignity. At the same time, slaves exerted a profound influence on all aspects of American culture. Language, music, cuisine, and architecture in the United States are all heavily influenced by African traditions and are part of a uniquely American culture.
Slave Life on the Plantation
The majority of enslaved men, women, and children provided agricultural labor. Trained craftsmen provided such services as blacksmithing and carpentry, while a smaller group of men and women served the needs of the planter’s family. On Sundays, slaves tended to their own gardens and livestock provided by the owners, practiced religion, and engaged with family and friends.
Through their families, religion, folklore, and music, as well as more direct forms of resistance, African Americans resisted the debilitating effects of slavery and created a vital culture supportive of human dignity. At the same time, slaves exerted a profound influence on all aspects of American culture. Language, music, cuisine, and architecture in the United States are all heavily influenced by African traditions and are part of a uniquely American culture.
Similar questions