Final answer:
Slavery was a national institution in cities like New York before the American Revolution and was different from other forms of labor due to its hereditary and lifelong nature as well as its racial basis. Laurie Halse Anderson's novel provides a historical context that demonstrates this, while personal narratives highlight the inhumanity of slavery, contributing to the abolitionist movement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The existence of slavery in cities like New York before the American Revolution is a historical fact. Laurie Halse Anderson's novel Chains is effective in conveying this truth, in part by including detailed descriptions and historical context that align with what we know about the period. Slavery during this time had evolved into a national institution, not just one confined to the Southern colonies. In New York and New Jersey, in particular, there was a significant population of enslaved people who worked both in fields and homes.
African slavery in the New World was distinct from past forms of slavery primarily through its scope, the racial basis for enslavement, and its legal codification. Unlike indentured servitude or other labor systems of the era, African slavery was hereditary and lifelong. Additionally, the domestic slave trade within the United States involved an internal and often brutal relocation of enslaved people, primarily from the upper South to the lower South.
Personal narratives of those who were enslaved, such as the one shared by Frederick Douglass, provide a critical insight into the inhumanity and dehumanization of the institution. These narratives often played a role in the abolitionist movement by enlightening the public about the realities of slavery and garnering support for the cause.