Why Was Slavery Morally Objectionable?

Slavery, historically the first and the most crucial form of inhumane actions in which a slave along with the instruments of production was the property of his slave-master. A man caught in slavery, had no rights, and was deprived, in addition, of an economic incentive to work; he worked only on direct physical coercion. Very often "special" status of slaves emphasized external signs (brand, collar, special clothing), as slaves were equated to things, and no one imagined that the "thing" can change their status and, thereby, to get rid of these attributes. Slavery quickly turned into an ordinary institution of society, in the normal way to the employment relationship of blacks and whites in the New World. Along with slavery, special racial feelings developed within the nation whether it is hatred or contempt, compassion or protection which was to put slaves in a humiliating position for the next 350 years. In other words, that is the combination of low status and degrading ideas that we call racism nowadays. Slavery, which lasted over a century, is unjustifiable and unacceptable. Slavery can be viewed as morally objectionable because of the physical punishment, disruption of family ties and the hunger and destitution many slaves experienced.

It was a complex and powerful controlled system designed to supplement the slaveholders and to save labor cost and their own way of life. A system that is refined and rough to hold power and wealth in the society that welcomes greed and power over anything else. Slaves were taught discipline and were forced to know their inferiority and the need to "know their place” and the need to consider the black color as a sign of submission. They were forced to believe that the interests of the owner are their only interests. The achievement of these goals resulted in separation of slave families through forceful effects of religion creating disunity among the slaves by dividing them into field workers and more privileged domestic servants. The more crucial and intense forms of the force of “law” were the common practices such as threatening whipping, burning, mutilation and death. For example, Edward Covey used to senselessly whip and abuse Frederick Douglass in an attempt to “break” Douglass for being too knowledgable as a slave (Page 263-264). Slavery was horrific for men, but for women, it was even worse because women were labelled as not only a slave but also a black and a woman. Slavery, of course, has always meant hard work, but for women it included sexual exploitation. In the following years, special codes were created for slaves to follow. For the slightest offense, they were severely punished, and resistance resulted in death. A slave who escaped was considered an act against the law, and any white person could kill the slave without a warning.

Slavery during this time was the law of the land; however, it is truly inhumane and morally objectionable. It