Lecture 6 Key Terms

gang vs task labor

Labor System>Large units of production -Gang vs Task labor The gang system is a system of division of labor within slavery on a plantation. It is the more brutal of two main types of labor systems. The other form, known as the task system, was less harsh and allowed the slaves more self-governance than did the gang system. The gang bang system was also much more efficient because it allowed continuous work at the same pace throughout the day, never letting up or slowing down. There were three gangs. The first gang(or "great gang") was given the hardest work, for the fittest slaves. The second gang was for less able slaves(teenagers, or old people, or the unwell slaves) and this gang was given easier work. The third gang was given the easiest work. The task system is a reference within slavery to a division of labor established on the plantation. It is the less brutal of the two main types of labor systems. The other form, known as the gang system, was harsher. The difference between the task labor system and the gang labor system was characterized by the amount of work time required by the slave and also the amount of freedom given to the slave. Some plantation owners allowed their slaves to produce goods for sale in task systems. The gang systems forced the slaves to work until the owner said they were finished and allowed them almost no freedom.

"day to day" resistance

Physical Resistance indirect or "day to day" resistance-small non-confrontational acts which are psychologically lifting direct resistance ie running away, revolts, theft, poisoning.

replacement mentality

"replacement mentality" in purchase of enslaved workers. They idea was if a slave died, you would just purchase another one like him, a young man.

African cultural carryovers

(substance of cultural element from Africa) Creating African American cultural elements which are distinct from Dominating culture. African Cultural carryovers Gullah West African trading languages+English+French African day names Opportunities for family and community

cultural resistance

Cultural Resistance (Autonomy) resisted adopting (or fully adopting) dominating culture.

Maroons

Freed slaves known cimarrons or maroons

Tacky's Rebellion

Tacky's Rebellion Montego Bay political revolution. (Jamaica, 1760) In the middle of the Seven Year's War, five rebellions involving more than five thousand slaves simultaneously began in separate parts of the island. The goal of the rebellion, led by Tacky and several others, was to rid the island of whites, enslave the non-participating Africans, and create five separate kingdoms on the island. It is one of the greatest examples of an attempt to set up an African society in the Americas. The leadership of the rebellion was mostly Akan, and many of these people had been recently enslaved during the Asante Expansion on the Gold Coast.

engeno

This processing or manufacturing part of the sugar trade required that the sugar producers owned or had access to an engeno or ingeno. The sugar engine or factory. The engeno was where the sugar was "ground" actually where the juice was squeezed from the stalks and the boiling house (part of the engeno, as well) was where the juices were heated to certain temperatures as part of the processing. Processing the sugar required some expertise. Sugar factories engenos -- "grind sugar" Boiling house Sugar master