The gang system is a system of division of labor within slavery on a plantation. It is the more brutal of two main types of labor systems. The other form, known as the task system, was less harsh and allowed the slaves more self-governance than the gang system did. The gang system allowed continuous work at the same pace throughout the day. The first gang, or "great gang," was given the hardest work, for the fittest slaves. The second gang was for less able slaves (teenagers, old people, or the unwell slaves) and this gang was given lighter work. The third gang was given the easiest work.
As an example, the planting gang in the McDuffie plantation was split into three classes (as quoted by Metzer):
The 1st class, consisting of the best workers, "...those of good judgement and quick motion..."
The 2nd class, who were the most inefficient and weakest.
The 3rd class, made up of children.
The first class had to go ahead and create small holes with about 18 to 25 cm (7 to 10 in) distance to each other. The second class then dropped cotton seeds in these holes and the 3rd class covered the holes with dirt.[1]
In the United States, the gang system developed in the nineteenth century and is characteristic of the ante-bellum period (c. 1820-1865). It is especially associated with cotton production in the Deep South, but also is associated with tobacco and sugar production.[2] Rice plantations in Carolina, for example, never adopted a gang system of labor. The idea of a gang system is that enslaved workers would work all day (traditionally, from sunrise to sunset) under the supervision of an overseer.[3] Breaks for lunch and dinner were part of the system. This is opposed to the task system, under which the worker is released when his assigned task for the day is completed.
^ J. Metzer, "Rational Management, Modern Business Practices, and Economies of Scale in the Ante-Bellum Southern Plantations", Explor. Econ. Hist., Apr. 1975, 12, pp. 123-50, here p. 135.
^"gang system | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History". www.gilderlehrman.org. Retrieved 2017-02-25.
^"The Varieties of Slave Labor, Freedom's Story, TeacherServe®, National Humanities Center". nationalhumanitiescenter.org. Retrieved 2017-02-25.
February 15, 2024
gang, system, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, february, 201. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Gang system news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2017 Learn how and when to remove this template message The gang system is a system of division of labor within slavery on a plantation It is the more brutal of two main types of labor systems The other form known as the task system was less harsh and allowed the slaves more self governance than the gang system did The gang system allowed continuous work at the same pace throughout the day The first gang or great gang was given the hardest work for the fittest slaves The second gang was for less able slaves teenagers old people or the unwell slaves and this gang was given lighter work The third gang was given the easiest work As an example the planting gang in the McDuffie plantation was split into three classes as quoted by Metzer The 1st class consisting of the best workers those of good judgement and quick motion The 2nd class who were the most inefficient and weakest The 3rd class made up of children The first class had to go ahead and create small holes with about 18 to 25 cm 7 to 10 in distance to each other The second class then dropped cotton seeds in these holes and the 3rd class covered the holes with dirt 1 In the United States the gang system developed in the nineteenth century and is characteristic of the ante bellum period c 1820 1865 It is especially associated with cotton production in the Deep South but also is associated with tobacco and sugar production 2 Rice plantations in Carolina for example never adopted a gang system of labor The idea of a gang system is that enslaved workers would work all day traditionally from sunrise to sunset under the supervision of an overseer 3 Breaks for lunch and dinner were part of the system This is opposed to the task system under which the worker is released when his assigned task for the day is completed See also editTask systemReferences edit J Metzer Rational Management Modern Business Practices and Economies of Scale in the Ante Bellum Southern Plantations Explor Econ Hist Apr 1975 12 pp 123 50 here p 135 gang system The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History www gilderlehrman org Retrieved 2017 02 25 The Varieties of Slave Labor Freedom s Story TeacherServe National Humanities Center nationalhumanitiescenter org Retrieved 2017 02 25 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gang system amp oldid 1065126480, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
