Many tried to destroy them, but slaves stayed strong and found ways to escape their injustices. The first Africans to arrive in America landed in Jamestown, the first English settlement in North America. For 250 years, many African-Americans found ways to resist slavery, ranging from hindrances to violent outbreaks. Resistance to slavery came in many forms. On Southern plantations, slaves executed small passive acts of resistance, while others ran away. Slaves also showed resistance in the form of religious practices in order to find comfort in the face of oppression. Violent rebellions were less common and mostly unsuccessful, but open defiance brought terror upon Southern whites. Slaves resisted the oppressive rule of their masters through aggressive acts, passive acts, and the act of running away.
The most common way to undermine the institution of slavery was for a slave to run away. “Slaves had diverse reasons for running away, such as brutal punishments, separation from family, and fears of being sold” (Campbell). Slaves were forced to live in hostile environments where they were treated cruelly. They had to work long hours in exchange for little pay. Slave families were often broken up. Slaves were prone to severe punishment such as whippings for even trivial offenses. Running away allowed them to get away from all the hostility. Running away also provided slaves the opportunity to start new and obtain a modicum of control in their lives. Often, slaves gathered