Reference no: EM132160589

By 1750, many plantations had implemented a task system. The task system allowed slaves to tend to their own gardens and livestock upon completing their daily or weekly quotas.

By working on the side, it not only supplied superior nutrition, but also enabled some slaves to make monetary earnings, allowing them to purchase clothing that would distinguish themselves from the otherwise standard clothing. The idea of the task system was incredibly influential among slaves

. Instead of having every slave remain in equally poor conditions, it created a system that rewarded the worker that worked the hardest. Seeing a slave wear expensive clothing caused jealousy amongst other slaves- incentivizing them to work their way up. By having slaves be jealous of each other, it prevented them from unifying and hindered tendencies towards revolt.

Another influential idea in the first half of the eighteenth century was one that was conducted by cartographers. By replacing Indian names, labeling Indian country as "empty land", and ignoring the existence of Indian people on legal documents, it greatly accelerated the rate of dispossession among Native Americans.

Without having legal binding to the land within the newly imposed system, it made it nearly impossible for Indians to hold onto their land within the court of law. Thus, many Native Americans had to resort to violent wars in order to keep possession of their land.

Through examination of these ideas, I was able to gain a better understanding of the mindset the British had during the eighteenth century. From pitting slaves against each other to ignoring legal documentation of Indians, the British were willing to use any cruel strategic means necessary to hold on to their lands and prevent future revolts.