Final answer:
The portrayal of a crippled black slave came to define the inhumanity of slavery in American history.
Step-by-step explanation:
The portrayal of a crippled black slave came to define the inhumanity of slavery in American history. Slavery was a legal and economic system in which individuals were considered property, and the mistreatment and brutality faced by enslaved people were symbolized by the image of a crippled black slave. This depiction was used by northern abolitionists to highlight the cruelty and injustice of slavery and played a significant role in shaping public opinion on the issue.