Slavery has been with mankind almost from the beginning. It has been common practice for millennia. American Indians and African tribes and virtually all other societies practiced slavery. They enslaved either people kidnapped from other tribes or whole tribes that were conquered.
In the days of the patriarchs slaves were necessary for farming and herding chores. Did slavery make the persons life worse? Being owned by another often meant getting taken care of and protected by the other person. A slave owner wants healthy slaves to protect their investment.
Were slaves sometimes considered just short of family members? Were slaves were very close to adopted children? Do some people treat the pets they own as part of the family?
Consider plantations where slaves were given small homes (compared to the plantation owner) and food. Were they better off than when they were in their own very poor country?
Were slaves that risked punishment by running away (north) treated badly by their owners? Did all owners treat slaves badly?
Individual freedom was something our forefathers fought to obtain. Was our forefathers support of freedom responsible for eventually emancipating the plantation slaves? Was the 13th amendment possible because the constitution allows amendments?
Are people in communist and socialist countries essentially slaves of the government?
Do they exchange free speech, free travel, free thought or opportunity for being provided minimal sustenance?
Do theocracies also enslave people?
Is there a role for religion in overseeing government?
You could consider the first slaves that worked for patriarchs preparing food and tending to the herds. They traded work for food, protection and shelter. Often people chose slavery as indentured servants to obtain either travel, debt payment or permission to marry. These conditions were often temporary. The year of jubilee, every 49 years, was when slaves were to be set free. Did many immediately sell themselves back into slavery for food and shelter?
Today, with a vibrant economy and justice system in place, slavery is considered a horrendous abuse of people.
Was it really all that bad before a strong free economy was established?
Was it better than the alternatives?
Were slaves treated better than sweatshop employees?
Is slavery what many groups, claiming to fight for equality, are fighting to establish?
Was the practice of lifelong slavery bad?
Are children often treated as slaves?
indentured servant: a person who signs and is bound by indentures to work for another for a specified time especially in return for payment of travel expenses and maintenance
Slavery, condition in which one human being was owned by another.
slavery | Definition, History, & Facts | Britannica www.britannica.com
