A Slave's Life A slave’s life is something that is hard to visualize on account of the lifestyle they lived would be ludicrous in today’s society. Slaves were not considered people of society they were seen as cheap replaceable machines. They were forced to conduct work that slaveowners could not complete by themselves or buy paying men to work for them. During the time of slavery it was only natural that if you owned land you would need slaves to produce for your benefit. Slavery had a rise and a fall but throughout the time slavery did exist, cruel and unusual treatment was given to the slaves. Slavery began in 1619 when 20 Africans were purchased in James