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There is no doubt that it was evil. It forced large numbers of human beings into involuntary servitude and often subjected them to extreme cruelty: slaves were beaten, raped, starved, and if they did not do enough work, murdered. They were forced to perform long hours of manual labor for their masters, who not only did not pay them but who often did not even give them any rest, even in the harshest weather. There may have been a few "benign" slaveholders who treated their slaves with some degree of compassion, but the very act of enslaving someone and holding them against their will is nothing to be proud of.

While not all slavery is racially based (in Bible times, those whose side lost in a war could be enslaved, although there was a time limit to how long they would remain in servitude), some of the worst slavery has been racial, with one group dominating another solely based on skin color, emanating from the inaccurate (but widely believed) claim that one race was superior to another and somehow had a "right" to enslave the inferior race. In the United States, slavery not only caused endless suffering and brutality for black people, but it also tore the country apart and led to the Civil War.

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Q: Was slavery a benign or evil institution?
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Related questions

How did apologists describe the institution of slavery before the 1830's?

A nevessary evil!! Trust me just had this question on a test got it right :)


Why did the Union think slavery was bad?

Most of the Northern population believed that on moral and religious grounds, slavery was an evil institution. The Northern economy was not based on slavery, although the cotton from the South was produced by the labor of slaves.


Institution forbidden by the the 13th amendment?

Slavery


Who ended the institution of slavery?

sojourner truth ended slavery


What was the institution?

The "Peculiar Institution" was and remains a common euphemism for slavery in the U.S. southern slave states. People to this day will speak of "the South's Peculiar Institution" as a way of referring to slavery without actually using the word "slavery."


What was slavery's nickname?

peculiar institution


Why is slavery referred to peculiar institution?

Slavery was referred to as the "peculiar institution" because it was unique to the American South and played a distinctive role in shaping its economy, society, and culture. The term highlighted the distinctiveness of slavery in the United States compared to other forms of labor systems around the world.


What was the Peculiar Institution?

The "Peculiar Institution" was and remains a common euphemism for slavery in the U.S. southern slave states. People to this day will speak of "the South's Peculiar Institution" as a way of referring to slavery without actually using the word "slavery."


Why did william penn oppose slavery?

William Penn opposed slavery for moral and religious reasons, believing that all individuals are equal in the eyes of God. He also felt that slavery was inconsistent with the principles of liberty and justice that he advocated for in his colony of Pennsylvania. Penn believed in treating others with respect and dignity, which led him to be a vocal opponent of the institution of slavery.


What sort of people helped runway slaves?

People who knew it was evil and wrong to hold another person as a slave. They were called Abolitionists, because they wanted to abolish (end) the institution of slavery.


What institution was forbidden by the 13th amendment?

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Did massachucestts recognize slavery as a legal institution?

Yes, Massachusetts recognized slavery as a legal institution until the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled in 1783, in the case of Brom and Bett v. Ashley, that slavery was inconsistent with the state's constitution and was therefore abolished. This decision effectively ended slavery in the state.