Slavery is one of the most tragic and inhumane practices in human history. It involves the forced enslavement of individuals treated as property rather than human beings. The legacy of slavery continues to affect people today, and its impact has shaped the world we live.
This article aims to provide factual information on the history of slavery, its impact, and the ongoing fight for reparations and reconciliation.
Shocking Facts about Slavery
1. Benjamin Franklin in 1790 tried to end slavery, but his proposal met with opposition from pro-slavery congressmen.
2. America’s first slave owner was a black, who probably thought to himself “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em!”
3. African Americans, both enslaved and free, provided the labor for the construction of early government buildings such as the White House and the United States Capitol, proving that even in the 18th century, black people were building America.
4. Several species of ants engage in “slave-raiding” by stealing ants from other colonies to their own nest. In conclusion slavery isn’t limited to humans.
5. An estimated 27 million people are enslaved today. This is more than double the number believed to have been taken from Africa during the transatlantic slave trade.
Surprising Facts about Slavery
6. In 1833, Britain purchased the freedom of every slave in the Empire using 40% of its national budget. Maybe they believed that ending slavery was a costly but necessary endeavor.
7. History is not just black and white. For instance, Over a million Europeans were captured and sold as slaves in North Africa between 1530-1780.
8. Most Romans treated their slaves better and used incentives such as bonuses and branding to improve productivity. Even in those days, employers knew the power of a good employee retention strategy.
9. They even had, Saturnalia, a festival in ancient Rome where masters and slaves would swap roles.
10. The author of “Don Quixote,” Miguel de Cervantes, was captured and kept as a slave for five years in Algiers before his release through a ransom paid by his parents. In other words, even the most famous authors had to pay their dues.
Dark Facts about Slavery
11. James Buchanan, the 15th President of the United States, opposed slavery. But believed it was protected by the Constitution. As a result, he decided to free slaves by buying them with his own money.
12. Someone who opposed the abolition of slavery was known as a “snowflake” in Missouri during the 1860s.
13. A London couple kept a man from Nigeria as their slave for 24 years before he finally escaped.
14. In ancient times, salt was often used as a form of payment for slaves, including by the Greeks and Romans.
15. Mississippi didn’t ratify the 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery, until 2013.
That’s it for this post guys, I hope you had leaned something while reading 15 Dark Slavery facts.
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