Discussion 1
Slavery destroyed the Black family. Up until 1640 black people had existed in America as
servants rather than slaves; “only starting in the 1640s do records indicate a prediction toward
making black people slaves rather than servants” (57). Thus during that decade the idea of black
people being sold for lifetime service to their masters began to grow within the white population.
This meant that men, women, and children could be sold separately at a high price. While slaves
of African descent tried to maintain their family ties through naming and retaining extended
family ties similar to those of native Africa, slavery strained their efforts extensively. Families
could be broken up by the selling of a father or the son to another plantation. Moreover,
“enslaved Africans in plantations suffered a high mortality rate from diseases, overwork, and
poor treatment” (62). Thus many families had a single parent, mostly the mother.
With ever increasing deterioration in their living conditions under slavery, black families tried to
preserve their African traditions and to forge stronger bonds with each other. However, the Black
family was still under constant strain from slavery. For instance, women who worked as house
maids and helps were often sexually abused by their masters. This resulted in increased
“psychological damage on African-American women and their mates” further straining their
families. “In particular, the sexual abuse of black women by white men disrupted the emerging
black families in North America because black men usually could not protect their wives from it”
(71). When slavery eventually came to an end, most black families were broken up by hardships
caused by limitations to their socio-economic possibilities further destroying the black family.
Discussion #3: Was the Civil War fought over slavery?
While there are a number of factors that led to the civil war, there is no doubt that the civil war
was mainly fought over slavery. The conflict and the lack of sympathy between the northern and
southern states was precipitated by each sides view on slavery; with the south strongly
advocating for slavery while the north pushed for abolition. As discussion three reading notes,
Slavery destroyed the Black family. Up until 1640 black people had existed in America as
servants rather than slaves; “only starting in the 1640s do records indicate a prediction toward
making black people slaves rather than servants” (57). Thus during that decade the idea of black
people being sold for lifetime service to their masters began to grow within the white population.
This meant that men, women, and children could be sold separately at a high price. While slaves
of African descent tried to maintain their family ties through naming and retaining extended
family ties similar to those of native Africa, slavery strained their efforts extensively. Families
could be broken up by the selling of a father or the son to another plantation. Moreover,
“enslaved Africans in plantations suffered a high mortality rate from diseases, overwork, and
poor treatment” (62). Thus many families had a single parent, mostly the mother.
With ever increasing deterioration in their living conditions under slavery, black families tried to
preserve their African traditions and to forge stronger bonds with each other. However, the Black
family was still under constant strain from slavery. For instance, women who worked as house
maids and helps were often sexually abused by their masters. This resulted in increased
“psychological damage on African-American women and their mates” further straining their
families. “In particular, the sexual abuse of black women by white men disrupted the emerging
black families in North America because black men usually could not protect their wives from it”
(71). When slavery eventually came to an end, most black families were broken up by hardships
caused by limitations to their socio-economic possibilities further destroying the black family.
Discussion #3: Was the Civil War fought over slavery?
While there are a number of factors that led to the civil war, there is no doubt that the civil war
was mainly fought over slavery. The conflict and the lack of sympathy between the northern and
southern states was precipitated by each sides view on slavery; with the south strongly
advocating for slavery while the north pushed for abolition. As discussion three reading notes,
