Colonial Slavery Why did slavery come to the American Colonies?

Initially, slavery was not the dominant system of labor for the colonies. It was Indentured Servitude.  Headright System  Headright System: Plantation owners were given 50 acres for every indentured servant they sponsored to come to America from Europe.  Indentured Contract  Indentured Contract: Served plantation owner for 7 years as a laborer in return for passage to America.  Freedom Dues  Freedom Dues: Once servant completed his contract, he/she was freed….They were given land, tools, seed and animals. However, they did not receive voting rights.

Bacon’s Rebellion ( ) Nathaniel Bacon represents former indentured servants. Governor William Berkeley of Jamestown

Involved former indentured servants Not accepted in Jamestown Disenfranchised and unable to receive their land Gov. Berkeley would not defend settlements from Indian attacks

Nathaniel Bacon acts as the representative for rebels Gov. Berkeley refused to meet their conditions and erupts into a civil war. Bacon dies, Gov. Berkeley puts down rebellion and several rebels are hung Consequence of Bacon’s Rebellion Consequence of Bacon’s Rebellion Plantation owners gradually replaced indentured servants with African slaves because it was seen as a better investment in the long term than indentured servitude.

Slavery introduced by the Spanish into the West Indies after Columbus came to the Western Hemisphere. Spanish and Portuguese expanded African slavery into Central and South American after enslaved Indians began dying off. In 1619, the first recorded introduction of African slaves into what would become the United States was in the settlement of Jamestown……Only 20 slaves were purchased…. Slaves captured in Africa Slaves aboard ship—Middle Passage

Why Not Enslave the Native Population? Native Americans were highly likely to catch European diseases. They were familiar with the terrain and could escape easier. They had political allies that could fight against the “owners.”

Reasons for Using Enslaved African Labor Proximity-It only took 2-6 weeks to get to the colonies from the Caribbean at first. Experience-They had previous experience and knowledge working in sugar and rice production. Immunity from diseases-Less likely to get sick due to prolonged contact over centuries. Low escape possibilities-They did not know the land, had no allies, and were highly visible because of skin color.

1700s is especially important for 2 reasons Century when the largest number of Africans arrived in the Americas or the New World When African American population began to reproduce itself in colonial North America (No. America was the only place in the New World where the population reproduced itself)

The Triangular Trade New England merchants gain access to slave trade in the early 1700sNew England merchants gain access to slave trade in the early 1700s 1.Rum brought to Africa, exchanges for slaves 2.Ships cross the Middle Passage, slaves trades in the West Indies. Disease, torture, malnourishment, death for slavesDisease, torture, malnourishment, death for slaves 3.Sugar brought to New England Other items trades across the Atlantic, with substantial profits from slavery making merchants richOther items trades across the Atlantic, with substantial profits from slavery making merchants rich

Manufactured Goods Furniture Clothing Colonials had not factories. From England to Colonies

This is called the Middle Passage

Destination, Auction, and Seasoning Most Africans landed in Brazil with the least number landing in North America. Slaves were auctioned off to the highest bidder. Slaves were put through a process of “seasoning” to get them ready for work. They learned an European language, were named an European name, and were shown labor requirements.

Slavery and the Colonies Slavery in the North –Since the economics of New England and the Middle Colonies were based on small farms, slavery was far less important –Given that slaves were few and posed little threat to the white majority, laws were less harsh than in the South –Slaves did represent a sizable percentage of urban laborers, particularly in New York and Philadelphia

Slavery in the Colonies New England colonies-no large plantation systems; slaves lived in cities and small farms Chesapeake Bay colonies (NY, Penn, WV, Virginia, Delaware)--large tobacco plantations; center of the domestic slave trade Carolinas and Georgia-large rice and cotton plantations

Slavery and the British Empire Slave Systems in the English Colonies –Three distinct slave systems were well entrenched in Britain’s mainland colonies Chesapeake South Carolina and Georgia Non- plantation societies of New England and the Middle Colonies –Chesapeake slavery was based on tobacco –Chesapeake plantations tended to be smaller and daily interactions between masters and slaves were more extensive

How Africans became North Americans It happened differently in each of the 3 regions –Chesapeake (Virginia and Maryland) –Lower South (South Carolina & Georgia) –North (New England, New York, Pennsylvania)

I. Chesapeake Origins –Legal transformation of Africans into slaves happened first in Virginia (1661). –Difference between English colonies v. Latin colonies was that status followed the mother –Black = slave; white = free

I. Chesapeake 1700s –Importation of African slaves greatly increased –Until 1740s, men outnumbered women 2:1 –From 1660s to 1740s, 75% of black pop came directly from Africa (previously, most blacks had come from Caribbean)

After the 1740s in Chesapeake 1740 marks decade when black population began to reproduce itself (Meaning that each women on average was giving birth to at least 2 children who lived to adulthood)

After the 1740s in Chesapeake 1000s of Africans continue to be imported into the community Two groups of slaves existing side by side – those born in Africa and those born in Chesapeake

Race Relations follow economy In Virginia, life revolves around tobacco production By time of American Revolution, blacks made up 1/3rd of population

II. Lower South Origins –From 1670s, Africans arrived in SC with planters from Barbados –Slavery in Barbados model for slavery in South Carolina –Since many Africans had been born in Barbados, they could speak English and had absorbed English culture

II. Lower South 18 th Century Lower South –Rice production –1700 – 1775, 100,000 Africans brought into SC –40% of Africans imported were from Angola

Economy Rice production leads to one of harshest & most exploitative forms of slavery in western hemisphere Rice cultivation described as scale involving 100s of slaves on each industrial slavery because it occurred on such a large plantation Very unhealthy work – swamp lands, standing in stagnant water for up to 10 hrs a day Resulted in high death rates from small pox & malaria

Cultural Implications In West Africa, rice cultivation regarded as woman’s work “You no man – take up hoe.”

III. North Origins and Facts –Slavery began in New York in 1626 when Dutch imported Africans from Dutch Antilles –By time of Revolution 10,000 blacks lived in New York –1641, Puritans in Massachusetts passed law permitting both slavery and indentured servitude

Slavery Economy in the North Concentrated in port cities of Philadelphia, Boston, and New York –Male slaves worked in shipping industry and for shopkeepers and artisans –Females worked as domestic servants –During 1770s, 70% of Boston’s wealthy merchants and bankers owned slaves –Most slaves were employed on small farms –But concentration of slaves was in esp. NYC

Race Relations in North Slavery in North was not as dehumanizing or as exploitative as in South Slaves could more easily hire their own time and purchase their freedom 5% of population was made up of African Americans by time of American Revolution Northern slavery was often more isolating because of small number of blacks and racism

Conclusion I After 1740, slaves could begin to maintain family integrity Slaves born in Chesapeake and North were acculturated to America From 1740s, slaves begin converting to Christianity as a result of Great Awakening

II Conclusion about community Distinct African American culture and deep community life develops on large plantations Culture is based on Christianity that is also influenced by African practices and notions of African spirituality

II Conclusion about community From Sunset to Sunup = African American community’s own time African Americans would greatly influence practice of American evangelical Christianity

III. Conclusion about Deep South AAs maintained African culture in esp. South Carolina Main cultural institution was the circle – which had spiritual and social meaning for West Africans Wherever there was a black majority was where African culture and language were most retained – Gulag culture of Sea Islands Very little direct contact with whites

Slaves resorted to revolts in the 13 colonies and later in the southern U.S. 250 insurrections have been documented; between 1780 and African-Americans were convicted of insurrection in Virginia alone. Slave Revolts

Slave Revolts would lead plantation owners to develop a series of slave laws/codes which restricted the movement of the slaves. Slaves were not taught to read or writeSlaves were not taught to read or write Restricted to the plantationRestricted to the plantation Slaves could not congregate after darkSlaves could not congregate after dark Slaves could not possess any type of firearmSlaves could not possess any type of firearm Slave owners wanted to keep their slaves ignorant of the outside world because learning about life beyond the plantation could lead to more slave revolts and wanting to escape. Slave Laws