Life in rural slavery was hard because they had to work in the fields all day. Also, they would get whipped by their owners and slave drivers. By 1850, slaves mostly lived on a plantation with about 10 or more other slaves. Some lived in small farms alongside their owners.

Life Under Slavery

Rural

Vs.

Urban

A demand arose for workers in mills and on ships, but slaves in the north couldn't sign themselves out as artisans. Urban slaves had it much easier because they weren't watched as heavily and they were fully fed and clothed.