A plantation own has to provide all the things you mentioned to whatever form of labor they’re using (free/paid or slave) either through wages or directly.
It’s much cheaper to provide those things directly, and cheaper still when they’re not in a position to complain about the quality of them.
A slave worked more hours, every single day, while eating the cheapest food available. A slave slept packed into a cheap, tiny, overcrowded shack. A slave couldn’t demand time off, higher wages, or quit. A slave could bring in income when their children were sold.
Everything else aside plantation owners were businessmen. They used slaves because they were the cheapest labor available.
… what.
A plantation own has to provide all the things you mentioned to whatever form of labor they’re using (free/paid or slave) either through wages or directly.
It’s much cheaper to provide those things directly, and cheaper still when they’re not in a position to complain about the quality of them.
A slave worked more hours, every single day, while eating the cheapest food available. A slave slept packed into a cheap, tiny, overcrowded shack. A slave couldn’t demand time off, higher wages, or quit. A slave could bring in income when their children were sold.
Everything else aside plantation owners were businessmen. They used slaves because they were the cheapest labor available.