SS Essay enslaved people resistance

context

Slavery was an institution that allowed for unfair treatment of African American people. Enslaved people were exploited, and forced to go through abuse and overall traumatic experiences.

Thesis

As a result, many enslaved people tried to resist and weaken the institution of slavery by using the underground railroad system to run away from their masters, forming families, and turning to religion to have guidance and resilience against the institution of slavery, and physically rebelling during the Nat Turner Rebellion.

underground railroad

The underground railroad was a network of abolitionists and freed enslaved people that would help runaway enslaved people and bring them to a place where slavery was not allowed. While many enslaved people wanted to run away, only some were able to; however, the underground railroad still proved to be a very effective network that allowed enslaved people to escape exploitation and unfair treatment. 

families and religion

Forming families and relying on religion was another way that enslaved people would try to resist and weaken the institution of slavery. For enslaved people to form families, it acted as a refuge and a haven from the harsh reality of slavery. For the slave states, enslaved people were not allowed to create families however, the enslaved people went against these rules, it was an act of resistance, as well as an attempt to weaken the strict rules on enslaved people and the institution of slavery itself. However, religion was also a big part in trying to weaken slavery. Religion allowed enslaved people to follow religious guidance and to try to go against the slave owner’s own religious beliefs to fight that slavery was not moral. Religion also allowed enslaved people to learn how to read and write, to eventually become preachers who would be trusted people amongst the enslaved population, and to eventually lead rebellions.

Nat Turner

While slavery was allowed in the southern slaves states, many enslaved people were forced to go through torture and abuse that no person should receive. As a result, many enslaved people did not want to suffer anymore and came together under the preacher Nat Turner to rebel against their white slave owners. The Nat Turner rebellion was the most brutal slave rebellion, killing sixty white people. This demonstrates how the enslaved people were tired of their treatment, and resisted against the institution of slavery, and being exploited. While the aftermath of the rebellion resulted in even stricter rules for enslaved people, being able to rebel against the white people who had more power sent a strong statement that enslaved people did not agree with the institution of slavery.