One of the most interesting parts of Morgan's work was when he discussed, as he put it the "only obvious disadvantage that slavery presented" (p. 310) - that slaves had no incentive to work. To correct this obvious problem, the assembly begins to pass laws that allow for the brutal punishment of slaves, even up to their "casuall killing."
Backed up by an earlier ruling from Barbados, the Board of Trade approved the various laws. Morgan then asks the question: would such a law have been approved had the punishments been meant for English servants rather than African slaves? Could slavery have developed independent of the racial component.
I think not. The Africans were, as Morgan points out, "brutes" so incentivizing them in the most terrible way possible was acceptable. But, to do this to an Englishman - someone who was Christian, looked like you, spoke your language, and came from the same place that you did probably would have provided some sort of hesitation. A fellow Englishman, no matter how low, lazy, drunken, or subservient was still an Englishman.
Finally, if slavery was possible without the injection of race, then why did it never develop once England began to emerge as a political entity during the Middle Ages? Serfdom, yes. But it took a new world and a different race for slavery to become recognized under common law.
I thought that comment on page 310 was interesting as well. I am an elementary school teacher and I have found that with children (and adults, too!) rewards are much more effective than punishment. Slaves being punished get them to do the work, but not exceeding expectations.
ReplyDeleteI think human nature hasn't totally changed since the 18th century. People work harder when there is a reward at the end. Punishment seems to be a consequence that doesn't encourage ANYONE (especially slaves) to go the extra mile.
Had word of cruel treatment of English servants (in mass numbers) reached England, there may have been some kind of government intervention. The king/Parliament needed servants to keep going to the colonies to help the planters. The slaves didn't have a king or Parliament to protect them.