COM1512
PORTFOLIO 2025
DUE: 15 OCTOBER 2025 (MEMO)
, COM1512 PORTFOLIO 2025
QUESTION 1
1.1 The difference between historical and modern-day slavery (10 Marks)
Historical slavery happened mostly between the 17th and 18th centuries, when African
people were kidnapped and forced to work as slaves on farms and plantations in
America and Europe. It was a system of physical control where enslaved people had no
freedom, were not allowed to read or write, and were often beaten or punished for
disobeying their masters (Learning Unit 1, p. 12). For example, in the American
colonies, thousands of Africans were sold and forced to work on cotton and tobacco
farms (Du Bois 2007:7; Berry 2007:23).
Modern-day slavery is different because it does not always look the same, but people
are still controlled and exploited. Today, slavery can happen through human trafficking,
forced labour, child labour, or debt bondage. People may not be locked up physically,
but they are trapped economically or emotionally. For example, many domestic workers
or factory workers around the world work under unfair conditions with little pay and no
freedom to leave.
Both historical and modern slavery are forms of exploitation, but modern slavery is often
hidden and uses economic control instead of chains. In both cases, human rights are
violated, and people lose their freedom (LU1, p. 12).
PORTFOLIO 2025
DUE: 15 OCTOBER 2025 (MEMO)
, COM1512 PORTFOLIO 2025
QUESTION 1
1.1 The difference between historical and modern-day slavery (10 Marks)
Historical slavery happened mostly between the 17th and 18th centuries, when African
people were kidnapped and forced to work as slaves on farms and plantations in
America and Europe. It was a system of physical control where enslaved people had no
freedom, were not allowed to read or write, and were often beaten or punished for
disobeying their masters (Learning Unit 1, p. 12). For example, in the American
colonies, thousands of Africans were sold and forced to work on cotton and tobacco
farms (Du Bois 2007:7; Berry 2007:23).
Modern-day slavery is different because it does not always look the same, but people
are still controlled and exploited. Today, slavery can happen through human trafficking,
forced labour, child labour, or debt bondage. People may not be locked up physically,
but they are trapped economically or emotionally. For example, many domestic workers
or factory workers around the world work under unfair conditions with little pay and no
freedom to leave.
Both historical and modern slavery are forms of exploitation, but modern slavery is often
hidden and uses economic control instead of chains. In both cases, human rights are
violated, and people lose their freedom (LU1, p. 12).
