USA HISTORY

LIFE IN ANTEBELLUM AMERICA 1807 1861

SLAVERY IN AMERICA COTTON SLAVE TRADE AND THE SOUTHERN RESPONSE

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
spirituals are
A
songs that slaves sang that were related to biblical verses
B
ghosts that haunt you when somebody dies
C
a type of instrument that the slaves played to impress their owner so they didn’t have to work
D
nightmares
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -Spirituals (formerly called Negro Spirituals) were the main religious songs of enslaved people of North America. These songs were sung in churches, cotton fields, and as “signal songs” on the Underground Railroad.

Detailed explanation-2: -Music was a way for slaves to express their feelings whether it was sorrow, joy, inspiration or hope. Songs were passed down from generation to generation throughout slavery. These songs were influenced by African and religious traditions and would later form the basis for what is known as “Negro Spirituals”. Col.

Detailed explanation-3: -Slaves sing most when they are most unhappy. The songs of the slave represent the sorrows of his heart; and he is relieved by them, only as an aching heart is relieved by its tears.-Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, chapter 2.

Detailed explanation-4: -One musical genre that has roots back to the days of slavery is gospel music. As slaves became Christians, a religion forced upon them, they began singing hymns later termed spirituals. These spirituals later evolved into gospel music. With the abolition of slavery, a new form of music began to emerge.

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