Why Africans?
1619 The first permanent African settlers arrive on the mainland British North America. Jamestown, Virginia
But why use Africans England had lots of poor white people Indentured Servants 1680 – 1750 Virginia – 7% to 44% Black South Carolina – 17% to 61% Black
Bacon’s Rebellion – 1676 -- Virginia
Why not use Native Americans? The died too rapidly The ran away easily The men weren’t farmers
Royal African Company, est. 1672
The advantages of using slaves Durability – Africans lived longer Conspicuousness – They couldn’t easily run away Agricultural skills A better investment Africans were powerless Permanence