d the missionaries are “women-whippers.” (Page118) Religion came to rely upon the slaveholders for financially support, “The dealer gives his bloodstained gold to support the pulpit.” (Page 119) Douglas describes this companionship by stating, “Here we have religion and robbery allies of each other.” (Page 119) The goodness of God was interpreted in such a way by these churches as to give the slaveholders a sense that slaveholding is right. Perhaps, “A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right,” as Thomas Paine wrote in Common Sense” (1776).There was not much of a family life for the slaves. They were often separated from their families at birth. Douglas saw his mother only on a few occasions and for only a short period of time. His mother died when he was seven. Douglas didn’t fell much compassion because he was never able to create a bond with his mother, “I received the tidings of her death with much the same emotions I should have probably felt at the death of a stranger.” (Page 21) This statement shows just how cruel society had to become in one of the most inhumane things that can be done. To deny a mother the right to care for her own child is equally inhumane.Slavery impact on the nation was not a good one. It both dehumanized the slave and the slave owner. The slave owners struggle to control the slave brought out an evil in them that cannot be brought out by any things. The slaves’ struggle for freedom and the suppression by their masters broke their spirit, which is a large part of human character. America would not have grown to be so great in such a short time without slavery, because of the economic value of it. But, it would not have been such a violent society then or such a violent society now if slavery had never existed....
