Summary Of Slavery By James Henry Hammond

The institution of slavery that existed in the United States before the Civil War is notorious for the abuse of African-American slaves. James Henry Hammond’s account on the slavery system of the South misrepresents the institution because it fails to acknowledge the callous treatment, negligence, and subjection of African-American slaves, which makes his argument biased. The omission of the slaves’ poor conditions allows for Hammond to embellish the institution of slavery with the false portrayal of generous slaveholders. James Henry Hammond states that slaveholders, including himself, “treat [their] slaves with proper kindness” because it is “necessary [in order] to…[derive] the greatest amount of profit.” However, he does not go on to

Throughout the argument, James Henry Hammond is very vague and states many half-truths that allow him to lie through omission. These half-truths are hidden and are the basis of Hammond’s statement, hence the bias in his argument. Furthermore, the actual relationship between slave owner and slave can be examined through accounts that demonstrate the more likely situation of a slave: that of being constantly mistreated. It is possible that there were slaveholders who treated their slaves with kindness like Hammond claims, but it is clear that the majority of slaves suffered mistreatment from their owners. Fanny Kemble’s journal is a prime example that illustrates the situation of many slaves in the nineteenth century. Slave women are described in the journal to be mistreated even while expecting a baby. There are many reports of slave women losing the majority of their children due to the “effect of the [slavery] system on [the women’s] health and that of their offspring.” Kemble also records the story of a woman who suffered four miscarriages, one that was caused by being “strained up to be lashed” while pregnant. The rest of the journal contains reports of countless slaves

Nat Turner, an African-American slave, led a rebellion and murdered several white slaveholders. He believed that a rebellion was necessary and that a spirit gave him the task to lead it. Throughout Nat Turner’s interview, it can be understood that he was determined to stop slavery or at least fight it for it was his belief that he must do it. His commitment to rise against the institution of slavery indicates that he did not enjoy being a slave. In a slave’s point of view, slaveholders were not kind but definitely tyrannical and cruel. If James Henry Hammond’s argument, that slaveholders were not irresponsible, were true, then slaves would not feel the need to murder their slave owners. Nat Turner exemplifies the way many slaves, if not all, felt towards their