sugar changed the world

The people who worked on sugar plantations lived brutal lives. Even very young children were put to work, spending long hours in the field, crouched over and pulling weeds.

Working like a machine, the slaves had to clear the land, plant the crops, keep the crops weeded, find fuel for the fires, keep the fires burning, cut the crops, keep the mill running, feed stalks into the mill, filter the boiling liquids, and sort the crystals. They had to work quickly so the stalks wouldn't become woody, and the heat was intense, even when one wasn't in one of the boiling rooms. The conditions were so hot that the houses had to be wet down so they wouldn't burn.

The workers put in so many hours and were so exhausted, some fell asleep and slipped into the boiling cauldrons. Many women lost limbs because an axe was placed next to the grinding wheel. If a slave fell asleep and was pulled into the wheel, it would crush and kill her. The axe severed the arm to save a life.

When the slaves went to rest, their houses were often cramped, wet, and open to the elements. Most slaves in Louisiana, where conditions were particularly harsh, died before they turned 30. If a slave didn't do what was expected of them, they were beaten by an overseer.