Research Project
Black Slavery In Canada
The Process
Slavery in Upper Canada was my final decision for this research assignment. As an individual I do not believe in discrimination or abuse in any way. As a prime source this document analysis will be on the anti slavery meeting at Toronto, Canada West. The article was published on March 20, 1851. During this time period from the sixteen hundreds to the nineteen hundreds slaves were treated horribly which also reveals how inhuman people were back then. It is almost sickening to think that the slaves were referred to as chattel and the owners were their masters who had absolute little respect for their slaves.
The reporter who wrote the argument has contributed more information aside from the meeting alone to explain the law of humanity. The article has no affect in the case of maybe being misleading as a result of it being a secondary resource. Usually reporters do not alter a story as they have experienced the evidence first and and while attending which ever story they may be discussing. With this author he from the way he writes and they way he adds in secondary readings for a better understanding I believe he could be fully supportive for the fact being that this meeting as been called for a secondary option to revert how slavery had been handled. With his side information on what was being discussed helped me better analyze the situation.
The purpose to which the meeting was held was because Revern Mr. Mclure wished to share with others why slavery was wrong also followed by his resolution plan to abolish the laws of humanity against slavery. This is where the reporter in addition gives us insight on what the laws of humanity were. These laws stated there was no special treatment from masters with regards to husband, wife, mother and children slaves. The men would be sold off to another master if wished upon. If a lady were to be pregnant from either rape by the master or by her husband that child would be forced as slaves because their mother is already a slave. Master have the option to educate their cattle, usually to their benefit only teaching them basic labour such as trades. It was completely forbidden to share the word of the bible because they were not deserving of it. The master can kill off his chattel and most likely get away with it but if he were to be caught teaching the bible to his chattel he would be arrested and sentenced for life with the treatment which slaves go through everyday.
The main question was how can a man mistreat a slave which is completely against the word in the bible but the man can go to church and preach the word? Because slaves are supposedly undeserving of anything and have nothing to live for. I believe that they should at least have the opportunity to know the word because at that time it would have given them hope that even on their lowest day, they would still have a purpose and hope for something better to come.
People present in the meeting all came to agree as well this act was wrong. The attitude towards this matter at he time of the meeting was more of a “here me out” process. It only makes sense why they wanted this resolution because these people were going against their own belief which was the word of god therefore, it is wrong to mistreat someone and forbid them from knowing the word of the bible. Aside from the abuse both physically and mentally these people were living against their main rule: loving others around as you wish to be loved yourself. This leaves us to think that because of the laws of humanity the resolution would be impossible achieve.
Putting it into play…