U.S. History
September 27, 2012
Ms. Young
Task Slavery system vs. Gang Slavery System
The Task System was a system where slaves had less supervision and more free time. The Gang system was where the slaves had more supervision and less free time. Which was harsher?
The Task system was one of the plantations out of two who used slaves. Slaves were assigned several specific tasks within a day. When task were completed the slaves had time to themselves to do whatever they pleased within limits. The benefits of this system for slaves were more free time and included less supervision. If you worked under the Task system, you worked in rice and cotton plantations, or in skilled labor positions. The rice plantation was the most common. Plantations plots measured around 105 square feet, or a quarter acre.The amount of work timed was based on how fast they finished the tasks they were given by their owner but there job had to be done that day. They had one to three tasks to finish a day.
In the Gang systems was the second plantation that used slaves. Slaves worked in unison, led by one or two strict white supervisors or black drivers from sunup to sundown. The Gang system was more efficient and harsh. Slaves continuously worked throughout the entire day and only finished when the owner said. Slaves worked in tobacco, sugar, or cotton plantations. Strict supervision meant slaves had less free time.
In Conclusion, Slaves who worked on the Gang system plantations that were harsher then slaves who worked on Task system plantation. They continuously worked them throughout the entire day until they were finished. In Task systems they only had one to three tasks to finish by the end of the day.
Works Cited * Gilder, Richard, and Lewis E. Lehrman. "Task System." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. N.p. Web. 27 Sept. 2012. <http://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/origins-slavery/timeline-terms/task-system>. * Gilder,