Conditions of life for slaves

  In France, in colonies, slaves' conditions of life were governed by regulations and laws gathered in the Black Code. This edict was drafted by Colbert and promulgated in 1685 by the king.

  Slaves had to possess an only and compulsory religion: the catholic, apostolic and roman religion. They were considered to be a thing which can be sold, given or shared like cattle. They weren't to carry weapons, meet or run freely. They could be punished but not mutilated or put to death except court order. They was fed by their masters who also had to dress them.

  Slaves' children belonged to her mothers' master. Little of them survived.

  Accomodations were modests. They slept on simple straw mattress.

  Slaves' conditions depended on their masters' cruelty. When it was the "marronnage".

  The fleeting slave were severely punished.

  Slaves couldn't buy themselves their freedom. The emancipated slaves formed a small communauty. They suffered from segregation.

  However, certains masters didn't appply the Black Code thus conditions of existence in plantations remain extremely difficult.