Extensive Reading-Book D Unit 37 (E)

abolishing

to put an end to
The president tried to abolish the slave trade early in his career.

abusive

harmful, harsh
She went to the police to inform them about her abusive husband.

cruelty

a condition of poor, often violent, treatment
Animal cruelty is not tolerated in the United States.

descent

of coming from a line of ancestry
The family's descent was notable for its connection to the ruling party.

emancipation

to free or end restraint
The emancipation proclamation ended the slave trade.

indentured

pertaining to a situation in which one is bound to work for another and receive pay for the services
Although they were paid fairly, the indentured servants were not happy with their work.

involuntary

happening without making a conscious decision
The reaction to run away from trouble is involuntary.

liberation

condition of being free or liberated
The liberation of the slaves is a positive piece of the history.

limbs

a part of the body that grows off the trunk or main section
One must risk life and limbs to if he wants to become a mountain climber.

lynched

to put to death, often by hanging
He was lynched for his involvement with the terrorist group.

object

to disagree or oppose to something
I did not object when I was asked to stay late at work last night.

plantations

a settlement, typically on a large piece of land
The tobacco plantations on the east coast have been in operation for centuries.

prohibited

not permitted or allowed
The college's rules strictly prohibited staying on campus past midnight.

punishment

negative treatment received for doing something wrong
The punishment for turning in a late assignment was a zero in the gradebook.

quakers

early group of settlers in the United States
The quakers objected to the slave trade, even though some had slaves.

servitude

a condition in which a person cannot decide for himself or make his own decisions
Living in servitude is something most people would not wish to do.

statues

a representation of something, often made of concrete or wood
There was a statue of the country's liberator in the town plaza.

trade

the condition of giving or trading one thing for another
In the slave trade, people were traded to work on other people's land.

uprisings

a fight
The prisoners' uprisingings were increasingly more difficult to control.

whip

to beat with a long rope
The slave was whipped for failing to do his job completely.