While slaves' living conditions were poor by modern standards, Robert Fogel argued that all workers, free or slave, during the first half of the 19th century were subject to hardship.
Sementara keadaan kehidupan budak bisa dikatakan buruk sesuai standar modern, Robert Fogel mengutarakan bahwa semua pekerja, baik budak maupun bebas, kehidupannya sengsara pada paruh pertama abad ke-19.