Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Different Perspectives on Slavery


Slavery was a complicted issue for Americans in the 18th and 19th centuries. Some people saw it as a absolute evil, others as a positive good. Some saw it as an economic nessessity, and others saw slavery as holding the nation back economically. People's views on African-Americans ranged from racism to colonization to advocating full equality. Today, you will get a chance to read some of those opinions, and share your reactions. You will need to click on the link to see the readings:

1. In reading 1, what did Thomas Jefferson mean when he said, "I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just"?
2. In readings 2 and 3, the authors have two very different views of slavery. How did Solomon Northrup view slavery in reading 2? How did Sir Charles Lyell view slavery in reading 3? Who do you think had the more realistic view of slavery? Why?
3. In reading 4, George Fitzhugh gives his view that slavery was actually good for the slaves. What are two reasons he gives for feeling that way? Do you agree or disagree? Why?

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

Luz Verdugo &&' Emmanel Ramirez
Period 2
Feb. 23,2011

1. We think Thomas Jefferson meant that since god is fair and they were not being fair to the african americans that god would do something to punish them.

2. Solomon Northrup viewed slavery as bad thing. He talked about how some slaves woukd have to work in the moonlight until midnight maybe even later. Sir Charles Lyell viewed slavery as a bad thing. He talked about how the slaves had a schedule and would go to bed in the middle of the day and how he sight of a whip was painful. I think Solomon had a more realistic point of view.

3. He said that the children the elderly and the infirm or sick did not work at all but still got a place to live and food to eat. He also said that men and stout boys worked on average 9 hours a day and that they would get their sabbaths and holidays.

Anonymous said...

p2 Tania C. Stephany L.
1)Thomas Jefferson meant that since God is fair,he will treat the people the way they ttreat their slave.Jefferson believes that karma will happen to them,but he as well believes that slavery is like a cycle,or the interaction of blacks and white.So the people will be judged by God on how the people treat slaves.
2) Solomon Northrup believes slavery is bad.He viewed slavery as a everlasting job.He described the slaves as being terrified,and treated badly.
Sr. Charles Lyell was for slavery,and thought of them as property.He felt as though it was bad but he felt like showing who was in charge.He mistreated them,and believed that if he was hard on them,slaves would obey his orders.
Solomon Northrup had a better view of slavery because he was one himself.He knows the kind of treatment they reseaved from their masters.He also knows the daily life of being a slave and what thier obligations were as one.
3)George belives that being a slave is the better option. As a slave you had shelter,food,and some liberty as a kid. If yoou were a free slave,you would work longer hours and wouldn't have the neccestities that slaves do. Slave are waited uuntil the right age of labor should begin. Slave also wouldn't have to work hard,,only 9 hours a day.
We believe that he is right in some ways.Slave do seem to have that better end as a slave rather than a free person.Although they do deserve better treatment,freedom,and rights.

Anonymous said...

P2 Sophia R. & Jocelyn A.

1.What Thomas Jefferson meant by, "I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just" was he knew that god was just and that God will get justice for the slaves like he did with the Egyptians and others that owned slaves. That God will treat those slave owners like they treated the slaves.

2.Solomon Northrup view slavery ina more harsh way than Lyell. He viewed it harshly because he thought himself in a higher position than the slave. That is why he saw the white make slaves work harder than Lyell. Sir Charles Lyell view slavery in a less realistic view because he thought he saw them with more rights and more freedom than they actualy had. Also many slave owners didn't treat their slaves like as he viewed.

3.George Fitzhugh's two reasons that showed slavery was good for slaves were: the slaves didn't work so hard and they had their holidays witch let them off work to celebrate. We disagree with him because even though they might have treated them right slavery was still slavery.

Anonymous said...

Ashley F
Cynthia G
#1. We think that Thomas Jefferson meant that he is scared that the country can fall apart because god is fair with everyone.
#2. It seems that Northrup's view of slavery is very profound and he knows alot of a slaves daily life.It kinda looks as if he were a slave.In the point of view of Sir Charles Lyell he does not like the way that slaves are being treated. He mostly pays attention to how the slaves are happy and how they celebrate.
#3. He says the southern peoples are the freest of them all. He also says that women work veryy little.they work little horus. This sad because it looks as if he is trying to convince people that slavery is good and that it helps the slaves instead of hurting them.

Anonymous said...

p.2 bianca g. Brenda T.

1. we think that the quote means that god is fair, and the people have not been fair to each other so when it comes to judgement day they will all be treated fair and get wat they deserve.

2. solomon northrop had a more realistic view on slavery because he is a slave. his view of slavery showed us how hard and mistreated slaves are. sir charles view on slavery was that slaves don't have it that bad and that they stop work at 3 wich is wrong. we believe solomon's view on slavery was realistic.

3. fitzhugh thinks that your better of being a slave , because u work less hours, children and aged and the the sick dont work at all, and they get sundays and holidays off. ulike the free laborers that work till they starve with longer hours for less allowenece and no breaks. we disagree with everything fitzhugh has to say about the enslaved person. we disagree because in solomons statement he mentions hard backbreaking work through all hours of the day and that evidence is comming from an actual slave that has experienced it before.

Anonymous said...

P:2 Melisa R. Adrian S.
1)Jefferson believed that slavery was unfair and God thought it was an injustice and would eventually punish those who supported it.
2)Solomon Northrop thought slavery was a nessacity because everyday the slaves would wake up and go to the fields and pick cotton then they would go to sleep. Sir Charles Lyell had a better view of slavery because he cared about the slaves because he fed the slaves 3 times a day and he didn't whipped them because he found the power of fear was degrading.
3)George Fitzhugh thought slaves were the best people because they had it better than laborers and were allowed to celebrate their holidays while laborers had nothing. Also, he thought laborers were more of a slave then a than a Negro slave. Laborers had to work or starve while slaves could work in good conditions and have liberty. We disagree because it's not right to think that slaves didn't have freedom because instead laborers had liberty.Laborers didn't suffer like slaves.

Anonymous said...

Crystal C. Daniel G. Pr.2

1. The account that offers the most accurate of description of slavery is reading 2 because its describes the hours of working,what they ate, and how scary was being whipped they mentioned the little breaks they had and the sun going down the longest time they had to work they would eat cold food all the time.

2. The apologists defended slavery because kids,sick,and old people don't work at all because first is the kids they need to have a childhood life and live what they got,secondly,people who are sick they get the time rest in order to heal, lastly,the old people they time to retire and have there final days of life they had they were already old that some of them were to weak.
3. Nat Turners say he led a revolt against slavery because he had everyone who could use a gun and he got the blacks to attack the whites while they were seeping he got tis by a vision from the heavens and Christ.

Anonymous said...

P.2 Katherine P. & Monica O.
When Thomas Jefferson said "I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just" he meant that he was afraid that God will punish his country for not being fair, because they have slavery. Solomon Northup viewed slavery as hard work because the slaves had to get up early in the morning, work all day and they were given only a little food. Sir Charles Lyell thought slavery was good because he said that they were lazy and noisy at night. He also thought that they got a lot of good food and sometimes ate too much and had extra food that they sold to buy things of their own interest. Two reasons George Fitzhugh thought slavery was actually good for the slaves were that they only worked nine hours in good weather and didn't work holidays and didn't have to pay for food or shelter because it was given to them by their masters. He thought that free people had to work harder because they had to work harder and longer for a living.

Anonymous said...

Juan M.

1) Jefferson meant that he is doing what he can for now because just like God, he is not immortal.

2)For Solomon, he is giving specific things the slaves do on their daily lives from the morning to the night. For Sir Charles, he is giving only the things that happen during the day. Solomon has a more realistic view of slavery because he is giving specific stuff unlike sir charles just giving the stuff.

3)Slavery was better because u get holidays, and u only have to work less for more. The men have to work or starve, the slaves work and
DON'T starve. They get liberty and more freedom. So i agree because it is true, slaves did get more freedom and liberty. :)

Anonymous said...

P.2
Angel M. & Ricky M.

1. What Thomas Jefferson meant is he is scared for the United States of being punished by God for having slavery because God is fair.

2. Solomon Northrup was a escaped slave who views slavery as a bad thing beacuse they work for long hours and all they can eat is corn and cold bacon. Also, they have little sleep and have very little breaks. Sir Charles Lyell saw slavery as a good thing because he thought they had many breaks and have many goood food and other luxuries. We think Northrup had a more realistic view of slavery because he was an actual slave and Charles Lyell was just a visitor from another country so he doesn't know.

3. The two reasons George Fitzhugh gave that slavery is good are that the masters protect the slaves and he said that they only work nine hours a day. We don't agree because the masters will only protect them because they're worth money and a slave usually works many more hours than only nine. So, his ideas of slavery are not true.

Anonymous said...

Ivan F. & Leo C.
per:2
date:2/23/11

1. I think he meant that if god was fair he was going to punish the united states because they were enslaving african american and they had a large amount of black slave.

2.Northrup was a escaped slave who viewed slavery as very bad because they had to work long hours, got only one short break, and they would only get bacon and corn bread on sundays to last them the week.Lyell vied slavery as a good thing because the slave would get long breaks, wold get a variety of food, and the slave were allowed to sell some of thier food for money and keep it. I think Northrup was more realistic because the truth is that slavery was bad and not as happy as Lyell made it seem.

3.the two reason is life is easier for a slave than a free black andthe masters would protct them.

Anonymous said...

Rafael Benavides per.2
Eduardo Flowers
1.0Thomsas Jefferson meant that he is scared of G-O-D becasue he knows that the country is doing a wrong thing which is slavery.
2.) Well since Northrup was a escape slave he would view slavery as bad thing he also show that the slaves were hurried for working they also had to work long hours, and they also said they had little breaks.
Sir Charles Lyell viewed slavery as good thing because he said that they had lots of food and extras, he also said that they had lots of breaks.
3.] In George Fitzhugh view he saw slavery as good thing because he says the slaves had little work and that they were one of the freest people in the world. I disagree with his view I think it was the opposite of what he had said. Ithink they had to much labor and that did not had enough food or enough breaks.

Anonymous said...

Per.2
Cesar S. & Lupe S.
1) What Thomas Jefferson meant in the quote is that he is scared for his country because he knows that God is fair and slavery isn't so he's scared that God is going to punish his country.
2) Solomon Northrup sees slavery being very cruel because he lived it and he thoght it was wrong. Sir Charles Lyel thought that slaves didn't have it bad and that being a slave was a good thing and that the slaves were happy and given a lot of food. We think that Solomon has the better viewing of slavery because he actually lived it and he knows what it feels like.
3) One reason that George Fitzhugh has to prove that slavery is a good thing is that he says that a Negro slave is free because they don't really work hard but they still get all of their necessities. Another reason he has is that the actual free people are less free than slaves because they have to work more just to make it through life. We don't agree with him because slave's lives were not at all how he said it was. Their lives were much harsher.

Anonymous said...

Cynthia Ramirez per2
1. Jefferson meant that he is scared of what God punishment will be because his country is still enslaving people even though we know it wrong.

2. Solomon described as slaves working long, harsh hours, where they barely eat, and sleep. They'd get whip too. Start early in morning, but dont stop until midnight. Sir Charles described as it good. Slaves had a fine life, even had time for chatter and music at night.

3. George Fitzhugh thought they had a good life, were fed, had shelter, and protection. They had holidays and Sabbath days. THe owner had a worse life, because they provided for everyone, and have to worry for financial issues ans such. I don't agree, you can only take a man who has actually experineced slavery.

Anonymous said...

P.6: Stephanie F.
Marlene G.

1)Thomas Jefferson is trying to say that he's worried that God is going to punish them becuase thery're doing slavery.
2)Solomon Northrup's view in slavery is a good thing to him, he doesn't care. Sir Charles Lyell's view in slavery is a bad thing, he does care & hates the fact if slavery. We think that SIr Charles Lyell has a better view of slavery becuase we believe that slavery wasn't good at all.
3)George Fitzhugh's two reasons why slavery is good for slaves are that slaves children doesn't have to work at all, but still gets what they need & slaves work no more than 9hours & still have their holidays. We still don't agree that slavery is good for slaves, but we know that it's better than working in factories.

Anonymous said...

Pr.6 Alejandra T. & Anthony S.

1) This Quote written by Jefferson means that if god was " just" or fair America Would Most Likely be Punished.

2) Solomon Northrup viewed slavery as if where a job. He believed it wasn't fair but it was good for laboring. Sir Charles Lyell viewed this more as torture. Like if he knew what it felt like to be a slave and he knew it wasn't pleasant at all he was more understanding of the situation. We Think Sir Charles Lyell was more realistic with his view of slavery because he had expirence as a runaway slave.

3)George Fitzhugh believed most slaves where the happiest people because he thought the had protection at all times from their masters but they didn't , he believed they had free living spaces and that they where feed a variety of food for free all they wanted was there work . Woman did very little work not as much as men and not as hard work as most men had to do.

Anonymous said...

P.6 Eduardo Ruedas

1)-Jefferson is saying that he is scared for his country because god created everyone equal, and we are lying to ourselves by having people as slaves.
2)-In Reading 3 the author talks about slavery as if it's okay. He makes it sound fun and some kind if relaxation. In reading 2 the author is trying to make the audience aware of the way slaves live daily, what they go through, and so on. I think passage 3 is more realistic because it gives specific detail of what an average slave does, lives daily.
3)-In reading 4 the author is saying slavery is a good thing, 2 reasons why he feels that way are because he was a social theorist, a racist for short, he just wanted people to see that black people where way better than white people even though he is lying, and also because he thinks that the only way to treat a black person was through putting him through slavery. He quotes "the negro is nothing but a grown up child".

Anonymous said...

P6 Rayven H.
1. When Jefferson said that he trembles for his country because he reflects god is just he means that hes scared because he knows god gives people what they deserve and knows that his country will get what they deserve for slavery.
2.Solomon viewed slavery as the slaves doing alot of labor and little rest time and very strict rules and little time to eat.He also mentioned how they werent allowed to stop until it is completely dark. Charles Lyell made slavery seem like its fun hat they had some freedom and plenty of rest time.He made it seem like they enjoyed being a slave and that they got alot of luxury items. I think Solomon's view of slavery was more realistic because if the slaves were treated as good as Charles said slavery wouldnt be a problem and not many people would want to be free.
3. The reason George Fitzhugh said slaves were the happiest because he said children and elders did no work and that the women did little work and were protected by their husbands and masters.I disagree because all people should have a choice to work or not work an should be able to be free and for women not all masters treat them nicely they could be beat same for men and children

Anonymous said...

p6 ariana romo:D

what jefferson ment was that he was afraid that his country would get what they deserve for slavery wich is bad.solomon's sees slavery harsh and he describes how the slaves had very little time for themselves and how they were served cold bacon and corn, so they ate poorly.in reading 3 sir charles lyell viewed slavery as an okay thing because he described how the slaves were fed good and how they got enough time to socialize and do their own thing . he also says that the slaves could get sell their food to get money and buy luxuries.i think solomon had the most realistic view of slavery because slaves were really treated more bad because after nat turner's rebellion the slaves had lost trust and were treated more harsh.two reasons why george fitzhugh thinks slavery is good is because slaves get good health no matter what and they work in good conditions. i disagree because i think that the owners probably though more about their own good health than the health of the slaves.

Anonymous said...

Luis L.&Daniela.H....Period-6

1. I think what Jefferson meant by this quote was that he is afraid that god will give them what they deserve for having slavery.

2. Solomon Northrup viewed slavery as a life style for the slaves because they had a daily routine. Also they had to work long hours even until the middle of the night and they would hae to skip dinner to work.

Sir Charles Lyell Viewed Slavery as a everyday life for the slavery, Also That the slaves would get food and ration it out for themselves. Another thing is when they have to work they can divide their work among themselves...

My Partner and I think that Sir Charles Lyell had a better view out of the two choices...

3. One reason is that the free laborers must work or starve. Also He is more of a slave than a negroo.

Anonymous said...

P6
Angel P.
Dario R.

Q1.In the quote he meant that he feels sorry for his country because of all the slavery that is tearing the country apart. He knew that peace in the country wouldn't last forever.
Q2. Solomon viewed slavery in a bad way. He provided the information that the slaves only get cold bacon and cornbread to eat. He also potrays slavery in a bad way by saying that they are very tired by the end of the day.
Charles viewed slaves in a better way than Solomon.
He provided the information that the slaves were fed with a great variety of food such as pork, rice, and soup. he also portrayed that the slaves have plenty of rest throughout the day and alot of time to finish their work.
Q3: one of the reasons that he thinks slavery is good is because the women do little work and are protected by their masters and husbands. Another reason is that the men usually work in good weather and still get to celebrate their holidays.
We disagree because slavery is always a horrible thing in any situation. Also because the women are not always sold with their husbands by the same master, so theyre not always protected by their husbands. also the men still have to word in freezing tempatures and on hot days. These are the reasons are why we disagree of George.

Anonymous said...

Period 6 Graciela Maldonado Lulu Lozada

1. In the first reading, Jefferson meant that he was scared that God would give them what they deserved for having slavery.
2. Solomon Northrup view slavery as a torturous way of living. Also, a very unfair lifestyle.
Sir Charles Lyell view slavery as an easy way of living, because he said the good things that they let them do.
Like letting them eat a lot, work at night, and sleep all day.
We think Solomon Northrup had the more realistic view of slavery because by common sense slavery's bad and unfair; he only stated those reasons.
3. George Fitzhugh gives his view that slavery was actually good for the slaves because, he says the kids enjoyed liberty because they were oppressed neither by care nor labor. Also, the women did little work and were protected from the despotism of their husbands and their masters.

Anonymous said...

P6 Luis M: Thomas Jefferson meant that he was scared for his country because they are using people as slaves. solomon viewed slavery as very harsh long hours very short breaks cold and moldy food on the other hand charles viewed slavery as not that bad good food 1 hour breaks and short working hours just like any other job that white men do, i think solomon had the better point of view because slves did get bad food,and long working hours. George Fitzhugh view slavery as a good thing because they get free food, a house, and shorter working hours compared to the factory workers and other white man jobs that white men did it was paradise :)

Anonymous said...

Per.6
Michelle P.
Emily P.

1. The quote by Jefferson means that hes afraid that God would give the people what they deserved for having slavery.

2. Solomon Northrup's idea of slavery was:
-slaves kept working even during supper time
-If it was a full moon they had to work until half night

Sir Charles Lyell's ideas for slavery were totally the opposite than Solomon because:
-the slaves got more rest
-more food options(rather than just COLD bacon and corn)

The most realistic view of slavery was Solomon's point of view, because thats how slaves were really treated.

3. He thinks that slaves are happy because they have some liberty. I agree disagree because slaves are sill separated from their families and sold. They still are not being treated like human beings. :)

Anonymous said...

P6 Emmanuel V. & Faith T.
1. I think that this means that he fears that beause his country kept on doing bad things that god looked down upon that he will evenually get "even" with them.
2.

3. He thought that the slaves of the South were the freest people of the world. He thought this because the children and old and sick didn't have to work. They were provided ll the neccesities of life. Also that women only worked little.The other reason is that the free person works more and has to starve .He also works for less allowance. He does not have holidays off.He also says that he does not have liberty and a single right. I don't agree because a free person has more rights than a slave and if he thinks that slaves have rights then they should have all the same rights as someone that was free.

Anonymous said...

P.6 Ronnie O. & Jorge M.

1) What Jefferson ment by that quote was that all the bad stuff that they do, God will punish them because God wouldn't like that.

2) Solomon Northrup viewed slavery as a tough, hard life with no privilages. They worked most of the day and had very little time to eat.
Sir Charles Lyell viewed slavery as a hard life, but enough time to eat and rest. They have time to do their personal stuff.
I think Solomon Northrup had a more realistic view on slavery. He explained that it was tough with no time to rest or hardly eat.

3) George Fitzhugh view on slavery was that slaves had a good life.One reason was because they would never starve.They always get food from their master.Another reason is that they got shelter. Some people don't even got a place to live.

Anonymous said...

P.6
Gonzalo Gutierez
Karlo Montes de Oca

1.) When Thomas Jefferson said, "I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just", he meant that the country is going to suffer how slaves suffered. God will give slaves justice, and the country will get what it deserves.

2.)Solomon Northrup said that all the slaves eat is cold bacon and cornbread biscuts. They work until they are told to stop. As a weekly allowance they get three and a half pounds of bacon, and corn. That was enough to make a small meal.Solomon saw slavery as a bad thing. Sir Charles Lyell said that life was good for slaves. They wake up at six o' clock and had an hour's rest at nine o' clock. During thier break they eat breakfast. They eat rice, milk, and sometimes pork and soup. They get hit as much as the master or overseer. Tjhey get money when they sell eggs and stuff. they get to buy tobbacco and other luxeries. i think that Solomon was the more realistic man.

3.) George Fitzhugh says that the children and the infirmdon't work and have al the comforts and neccesities of life givin to them. Women don't work much and are protected by the cruelty of their husbands by their masters. I do not agree with his views of slavery and why it is good for the slaves.

Anonymous said...

Jacob T. Carlos L. Per. 6

1. What Thomas Meant in the quote was that justice was to be shared by everyone.

2. Solomon described slavery as very harsh and the slaves got only got like a little peice of cornbread and like half a strip of bacon. On the other hand Sir Charles thought the slaves were treated equally and gothalf a pound of bacon each and tons of more food, So muchfood that they had extras.

3.I agree , he thought this because he said that they were the happiest slaves in the south and that they provied them with what they needed.

M. Albert said...

Lyell's description is slavery is a good example of how primary sources can be dangerous if not used carefully. Lyell was a British scientist who took two tours of the US in the 1840s. During his trips, he saw enslaved people being treated courteously, and concluded that slavery wasn't so bad after all. Solomon Northrup knew about slavery first-hand: he was a free black who was kidnapped and sold into slavery. It took a judge to set him free again.
George Fitzhugh's defense of slavery proves that a skilled speaker or writer can make even the worst thing look acceptable. Yes, factory life was hard, but at least the workers were not slaves.