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Class and Slavery in the Colonial South: A Complex and Dynamic Relationship

Jaden Cox

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Published in The Short Life Of Free Georgia: Class And Slavery In The Colonial South

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The Short Life of Free Georgia: Class and Slavery in the Colonial South

by Matt Carlson

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	5647 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	149 pages

Class and the Experience of Slavery

The most obvious way in which class shaped the experience of slavery was through the division of labor. Slaves were typically assigned to the most menial and dangerous tasks, while white workers were given more skilled and prestigious jobs. This division of labor reflected the social hierarchy of the South, in which whites were seen as superior to blacks.

In addition to the division of labor, class also shaped the way in which slaves were treated. White slave owners often used violence to control their slaves, and they were often indifferent to the suffering of their human property. This brutality was a reflection of the fact that slaves were seen as less than human, and that their lives were not valued in the same way as the lives of white people.

Slavery and the Development of Class Relations

Slavery also had a profound impact on the development of class relations in the South. The plantation economy, which was based on the labor of enslaved Africans, created a sharp divide between the wealthy planter class and the poor white farmers. The planters were the economic and political elite of the South, and they used their power to protect their interests and to maintain the institution of slavery.

The poor white farmers, on the other hand, were often resentful of the planters' wealth and power. They felt that they were being denied opportunities that were available to the planters, and they were often forced to compete with slaves for jobs and land. This resentment sometimes led to violence, as poor white farmers attacked planters and their property.

The relationship between class and slavery in the Colonial South was complex and dynamic. Class shaped the experience of slavery in a number of ways, and slavery in turn shaped the development of class relations in the South. The legacy of this relationship can still be seen in the South today, where there is a persistent divide between the wealthy and the poor, and where race continues to play a significant role in social and economic life.

The Short Life of Free Georgia: Class and Slavery in the Colonial South

by Matt Carlson

4.1 out of 5