UP TO 1820 Slavery in the United States
History of Slavery Greek and Roman civilisation. Variety of jobs Became slaves for many reasons Conditions not the same for all Middle Ages Europe Africa Nr East
Chattel Slavery – became preferred to white indentured servants Emergence of Brazil and Caribbean during 1500s. Arrival of Africans in N America in 1619
The Nature of Slavery Length of service Inheritance Legal status Economic status Political status Plantation slavery grew harsher with fear of rebellion 1790s 1800 1822 1831
North South Slavery never dominant End of 18thC began to abolish slavery Vermont New Jersey End of slave trade 1808 Thought would die out 1793 Cotton Gin Industrial demand Greater use of plantation slavery Made stocks more valuable Number of slaves still increased The North and South diverge
Growth of slavery
Social, Political and Economic effects SocialPoliticalEconomic Creation of ‘master’ class Some white northerners were also racist and did not want to interfere with slavery. Washington, Jefferson and Madison = slaveholders. Constitution all but 3 presidents = slaveholders Cotton exports 1790 = = 178, = 4,500,000 Was main product and export. Impact on N/S relations 10 states and territories came to depend on plantations
Impact on Western Expansion Need for plantation land Better climates admittance of new states Raised the question of slavery 1820 Missouri Crisis