Slave Labor

Definition

Slave labor refers to work performed by enslaved individuals against their will under threat of punishment. In American history, it was primarily used in agriculture - particularly in Southern states' plantation economies.

Related terms

Middle Passage: The part of trade where Africans were densely packed onto ships and transported across Atlantic Ocean to West Indies/Caribbean Islands/Americas; many died due to horrific conditions.

Abolitionism: Movement aiming at ending slavery; abolitionists believed slavery was morally wrong and fought for its eradication.

Fugitive Slave Act: Laws passed by the United States Congress in 1793 and 1850 to provide for the return of slaves who escaped from one state into another state or territory.