How benign was the slavery system in the USA?

The question suggests that in the USA during the 19th century that slavery wad gentle and kind. However based on evidence I believe that this was not the case and in fact it was extremely harsh. This essay will go on to discuss weather this statement is accurate and look at both sides of the argument.

On the one hand some people believpooed slavery was benign as they believed that slaves were treated fairly with respect and there was a friendship between the slave and their owner. For example a historian said “given the standards of the day, slaves were reasonably well fed, clothed and housed.” Slave owners believed that they were treating their slaves fairly and in fact maybe even better than they should for the time. It was also said that “some slaves were granted enough money to purchase their freedom” this shows that some slave owners believed that they were in fact helping their slaves to gain a better life. This evidence may not be reliable as a greater number of reliable sources sate that slavery was not benign and this evidence may be in favour of slavery as the historian who gained the information may only have been exposed to sources in favour of the slavery system.

On the other hand some believed slavery some believed slavery was benign as it was said that “slaves usually worked longer hours than free Americans.” This suggests that slavery wasn’t benign as they had to work harder than other people in order to earn less money and live in worse conditions. It was also said “most slaves lived in overcrowded long cabins” this implies that slaves lived in worse conditions than the free person and contradicts the statement “…were reasonably well fed, clothed and housed” suggesting slave owners believed that they were treating their better than they were. It was also said that “slaves had few prospects of