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What slavery realy was
was usually accepted. On the other hand, some masters ’values were such that they provided more benevolent treatment. Small farmers, working side by side with the slaves, often developed a relationship much like a partnership. A large planter probably had little personal contact with his slaves, but often gave better provisions because of economic circumstances. Slaves frequently were allowed their own vegetable plots and even chickens. Some could conduct their own business, such as selling eggs in town or cutting wood on their own time for sale. Occasionally slaves were allowed to save money to purchase their freedom.
Benevolent treatment did not change the basic inhumanity of slavery. The vast majority of slaves hated their lot in life and found ways to resist. The only incentive for a slave to work for his master was usually negative—the fear of punishment, and so slaves did as little as possible. Working for themselves, however, they could prove quite industrious. A favorite way of striking back at the master was theft, particularly of food. The strongest evidence of slave resentment is the large number of runaways.