Final answer:
Frederick Douglass stated that city slaves were treated better than plantation slaves due to the increased public visibility and scrutiny in urban areas which prevented the worst abuses, paired with improved living conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Frederick Douglass, slaves in the city were treated better than those on the plantations because of the different conditions and societal expectations found in urban areas. In cities, there was a higher degree of scrutiny and visibility of slave owners' actions, making it difficult to subject slaves to the same extreme level of cruelty and neglect that could occur in the isolated environment of the plantations. City slaves often had better access to food, clothing, and relative privileges that plantation slaves did not, contributing to an overall better quality of life, although still deprived of their fundamental freedoms and rights.
Proponents of slavery, like James Henry Hammond, defended the institution by claiming that the paternalistic nature of slavery was beneficial for both slaves and white southerners. They argued that slaves did not have to worry about securing basic necessities such as food, clothing, or shelter, which were provided by their masters. This contentious viewpoint framed slavery as a system where African Americans were characterized as a 'mudsill class' performing menial tasks, thereby freeing whites to pursue more refined activities. However, this perspective fundamentally ignored the moral and human rights abuses of the institution of slavery.