Slavery in Early America "How is it that we hear the loudest yelps for liberty from the drivers of Negroes?"
I. 4 Common Myths About Slavery in Early America
A. The American colonies dominated slavery in the New World
Slavery was only in the South
All African-Americans were slaves
Census Year # Slaves # Free blacks Total black % free blacks 1790 697,681 59,527 757,208 7.9%
Slavery, the American colonies & King Cotton
II. The Shift from Indentured Servants to Slaves
A. The Era of Indentured Servants (~1610s-1670s)
The Tobacco Economy & the Headright System
Life and Liberty for Indentured Servants
The Ambiguous Status of African-Americans http://www.nps.gov/jame/historyculture/african-americans-at-jamestown.htm
B. The Shift to Slaves (~1670s-1700)
Bacon’s Rebellion, Indentured Servants & the Land Problem
Rising Wages in England Fewer Willing to Become Indentured Servants Other Factors Rising Wages in England Fewer Willing to Become Indentured Servants Wealthier Colonists Can Afford Slaves
C. The Slavery Era (1700s American Revolution+)
Slave Codes, Racism, and the Law
Slave Culture: Families and Folkways
Slave Resistance: The Stono Rebellion, and New Slave Codes
A Society with Slaves or a Slave Society?