An Empire for Slavery
Nicole Soifua
Professor Quiroz
Texas History
25 February 2014
An Empire for Slavery
In the book, "An Empire for Slavery", Randolph B. Clark describes the way in which Texas slaves coped with life under oppressive circumstances. Some of the topics discussed in the book include how slaves approached daily chores and provided for their material and physical condition. Also, it is demonstrated how slaves tended to their psychological and spiritual well being and how they displayed their feelings towards this "Peculiar Institution."
In the opening chapter, Campbell states that slavery first appeared in Texas following the arrival of the Spanish explorers during the sixteenth century. However, Campbell notes that the institution remained stagnant until the arrival of American settlers. During the colonial period of Texas, American settlers realized that slavery was necessary in order to promote growth and expansion within the region. Spanish officials had attempted to restrict and abolish slavery, but there efforts failed to stop the influx of slaves into Texas. Although Campbell disputes the notion that the Texas Revolution was a slaveholders’ conspiracy, he agrees that Texas’ independence from Mexico removed a major barrier that had limited the growth of slavery in Texas. This did well for the book because it established the first chapter and introduced the book very well and explained the main points and what was going to be discussed.
Some slaves in Texas approached responsibility for work in such a manner that they were given a great deal of leeway for their own daily job assignments and were even given supervisory positions over other slaves. Some bondsman, working as managers, tended to plantations and farms in the absence of the owners. This practice is quite remarkable when we sometimes visualize a slave as a black man with a chain and heavy ball attached to one foot. The conception of manager slaves apparently was propagated in such an
Professor Quiroz
Texas History
25 February 2014
An Empire for Slavery
In the book, "An Empire for Slavery", Randolph B. Clark describes the way in which Texas slaves coped with life under oppressive circumstances. Some of the topics discussed in the book include how slaves approached daily chores and provided for their material and physical condition. Also, it is demonstrated how slaves tended to their psychological and spiritual well being and how they displayed their feelings towards this "Peculiar Institution."
In the opening chapter, Campbell states that slavery first appeared in Texas following the arrival of the Spanish explorers during the sixteenth century. However, Campbell notes that the institution remained stagnant until the arrival of American settlers. During the colonial period of Texas, American settlers realized that slavery was necessary in order to promote growth and expansion within the region. Spanish officials had attempted to restrict and abolish slavery, but there efforts failed to stop the influx of slaves into Texas. Although Campbell disputes the notion that the Texas Revolution was a slaveholders’ conspiracy, he agrees that Texas’ independence from Mexico removed a major barrier that had limited the growth of slavery in Texas. This did well for the book because it established the first chapter and introduced the book very well and explained the main points and what was going to be discussed.
Some slaves in Texas approached responsibility for work in such a manner that they were given a great deal of leeway for their own daily job assignments and were even given supervisory positions over other slaves. Some bondsman, working as managers, tended to plantations and farms in the absence of the owners. This practice is quite remarkable when we sometimes visualize a slave as a black man with a chain and heavy ball attached to one foot. The conception of manager slaves apparently was propagated in such an