Living and working conditions on the plantations

• Enslaved people were forced to work long hours, typically 12 hours and longer at harvest time.
• Enslaved people worked 7 days a week and received no holidays.
• The work was backbreaking and working on sugar plantations could be very dangerous.
• Enslaved people were watched closely by overseers and whipped if not working hard or fast enough.
• All enslaved people were expected to work regardless of age.
• Enslaved people could work as field hands or as domestic help.
• The housing for enslaved people was very basic, often requiring them to build their own shelters.
• Enslaved families were often split up and separated when they were bought and sold on.
• The food for enslaved people was of poor quality and they were rarely given meat.
• Diseases such as dysentery were common among enslaved people and there was little or no medical treatment for those enslaved.
• Enslaved people could be beaten if they disobeyed owners, as a warning to others.