Fear to Tame

What was the reason for the harsh punishment of slaves for minor offenses?

Fear was used to keep the slaves from running away and rebelling. It is the same measures we use to teach our children not to do certain things. If you want your child to stop sucking their thumb, you might tell them that if they suck their thumb too much, then it will turn green and fall off. You may also show them pictures of green thumbs to discourage this bad habit. When a slave did something their master did not like, the master would whip them not only to teach them a lesson, but to send a message to the other slaves that if you do what they did, you will be punished. If the slaves had no reason to fear the repercussions of their actions, then there would be nothing stopping them from revolting against their masters. Instilling fear in the slaves, would minimize the chances of a rebellion. This method of running a plantation was cruel and wrong, but very effective in keeping the slaves at bay.