The article describes the cruelty of the slavery period in Antebellum America and the atrocities suffered by slaves, particularly “whipping”. This is one of the most common forms of punishment given by slave-owners to the slaves, in the event of making a mistake or disobeying their masters. On large plantations, this power was delegated to the overseers. The number of lashes depended on the seriousness of offence. Whipping was a widespread and frequent practice. Males and females were whipped indiscriminately. One of the most important evidences of its severity came from the diary of Bennet Barrow, a plantation owner, who owned 129 slaves. His diary mentions confining slaves to a plantation jail, putting them in chains, shooting them, having slaves mauled by dogs, holding their hands under water, etc. In the twenty-three month period, Barrow recorded 160 whippings. Thus, on an average, a slave was whipped every four and a half days. More than half of the slaves, who worked in his fields, were whipped at least once. There were several methods used by the masters to whip slaves. Some used whips that raised welts, thus causing bruises. Some resorted to cowhide whips that broke the skin, whereas some were even beaten to death. Slaveholders believed that cruel punishment to slaves is the only method that could encourage them to work hard and improve their flaws. However, the results of whipping were, in fact, counterproductive. Instead of improving the slaves’ mistakes and encouraging them to work hard, it only provoked resentment and an everlasting pain among the minds of slaves.
1. What were the consequences of whipping the slaves? Was it successful in improving them?
2. Why was no legal action taken by government/law-organizations to stop the whipping?
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