Master Slave Relations in Florida 1821 
Jaunice Kent
AFA 3014E-501
Fall 2014 Semester
A Troublesome Property: Master-Slave Relations in Florida, 1821-1865 The Master-Slave relationship was a difficult relationship to say the least. On one hand, there were owners that did everything in their power to remain in charge and then there were some owners who treated their slaves very kindly. Regardless of which approach was taken, slavery still caused a lot of conflict. Mr. Larry E. Rivers discusses what both slave owners and slaves themselves went through during 1821-1865. There were many ways in which slave owners tried to control their slaves, two of the major ones being through religion and corporal punishment.
When it came down to religion, some slave owners didn’t want their slaves to practice such things in fear that the slaves would be moved in a way to overthrow their power. Severe slave codes were established to deter slaves from doing certain things but it didn’t always work out. Though owners had forbidden religion on their plantations, slaves often had secret meetings whether it was at night or when they felt the master or overseer wasn’t looking. This included sermons by slaved and even ex-slaved men, freedom hymns, and other forms. Slaves believed that God would deliver them from bondage and that they would be reunited with their family. On the other hand, some slave owners encouraged the practice of religion as long as it was under their watch and their rules and regulations. Slave owners would have a building solely for preaching and they would appoint a white minister to allude to the idea that the slave owners were “Gods” and that as slaves; they should look up to, respect, and serve them. Blacks were not allowed to pick up any books because slave owners were afraid that they would learn how to read. Religion restrictions were only the start of the “Troublesome Property” observation.
Another attempt to control slaves was the idea of corporal punishment. Many slaves felt as if they were not
AFA 3014E-501
Fall 2014 Semester
A Troublesome Property: Master-Slave Relations in Florida, 1821-1865 The Master-Slave relationship was a difficult relationship to say the least. On one hand, there were owners that did everything in their power to remain in charge and then there were some owners who treated their slaves very kindly. Regardless of which approach was taken, slavery still caused a lot of conflict. Mr. Larry E. Rivers discusses what both slave owners and slaves themselves went through during 1821-1865. There were many ways in which slave owners tried to control their slaves, two of the major ones being through religion and corporal punishment.
When it came down to religion, some slave owners didn’t want their slaves to practice such things in fear that the slaves would be moved in a way to overthrow their power. Severe slave codes were established to deter slaves from doing certain things but it didn’t always work out. Though owners had forbidden religion on their plantations, slaves often had secret meetings whether it was at night or when they felt the master or overseer wasn’t looking. This included sermons by slaved and even ex-slaved men, freedom hymns, and other forms. Slaves believed that God would deliver them from bondage and that they would be reunited with their family. On the other hand, some slave owners encouraged the practice of religion as long as it was under their watch and their rules and regulations. Slave owners would have a building solely for preaching and they would appoint a white minister to allude to the idea that the slave owners were “Gods” and that as slaves; they should look up to, respect, and serve them. Blacks were not allowed to pick up any books because slave owners were afraid that they would learn how to read. Religion restrictions were only the start of the “Troublesome Property” observation.
Another attempt to control slaves was the idea of corporal punishment. Many slaves felt as if they were not