Dual Theories of Patriarchy and Paternalism

The patriarchal ethos held that the masters were the slaves' father figure and had a responsibility to be the guardian to protect and sustain the slaves (p. The slaves had the duties of being submissive, docile and obedient to their father figure. They were part of the household, and this cushioned them from the full effects of the free-market commercialism. The patriarchal ideologies were undermined, and this gave way for paternalism (p. People aligned themselves according to the color of their skins as the century progressed and the gap between the masters and slaves widened. Patriarchalism had a fair share of self-serving individuals, and it offered no guarantee of benevolence. It was a harsh agreement and was perhaps a smokescreen for exploitation.

Patriarchalism allowed masters the power over the life and death of a slave. The slaves remained properties to their masters, and the cruel and authoritarian core of patriarchalism made the masters ignore the seriousness of what they did to their slave families. Patriarchalism rationalized the severity that lay at the heart of the slave system (p. Difference of the Patriarch and the Paternalism that Followed Patriarchal masters would continue to enforce order and authority, but the paternalism was more inclined to emphasize solicitude towards and generous treatment of their dependents. Masters began to express sentiments and expressed gratitude and even love for their slaves. Masters would rarely boast of their submissiveness and obedience of their slaves, but gradually they began to talk of a contended and a happy slave.

Prospective buyers of slaves preferred slaves sold in families rather than individuals. Slaves started families on their master's plantation, and this saw their masters become more involved in their families. The rise of humanitarianism led to amelioration of some aspects of the slave code and shifts in the community sentiments in Virginia. Soon pardons of slaves on humanitarian grounds would arise, and other changes would follow. This saw intermarriages occur and masters in Chesapeake and Lowcountry became more sensitive about their reputation in the late 18th century. The change in community sentiments saw advocated for humane treatment of the slaves without conflicting with the economic benefits. Masters employed incentives to achieve their aims, and the compassion were viewed as a tool to maximize the profits and enhance the master's investment.