Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries people from Africa were forced into slavery to labor in the production of crops such as tobacco and cotton. Slaves were sold to owners or masters. Most families of slaves were separated and auctioned. They were made to work in plantations in very inadequate conditions.They were whipped if they did not obey their masters orders. They were disallowed to talk with other slaves and formal education was denied.
An escaped slave showing his back at a medical examination
Examination of a slave, 1863, Library of Congress
