Why was slavery bad in America?

Answer 1

The "badness" of slavery in America began in the transport of slaves across the Atlantic, where they were packed like human sardines. Many, many Africans died on the way to America. Furthermore, once in America, the slaves on plantations were often treated cruelly. They were forced to work for long hours. Slaves were kept in primitive cabins with terrible living conditions. Many were subjected to whipping or other forms of punishment. Slaves could be sold at any time. Many families were broken up through the slave trade. Aside from problems for the slaves (though they were many) slavery was (and is) an unsustainable economic system. Slaves were expensive to own, and worked as little as possible (If one has no hope of advancement, one has no incentive to work any harder than necessary to avoid punishment). They often intentionally destroyed equipment. Slaves were kept intentionally uneducated (to avoid chance of rebellion) which meant their skills were limited and industry was not an option. (This led to the economic stagnation in the South leading up to the Civil War.) The largest problem with slavery was that it involved the oppression of a human being by another. Slaves had no say in their lives and were denied education and even basic civil rights.