The Southern Colonies: Plantations and Slavery 4.3 Notes
Slavery Slavery becomes entrenched in southern culture Evolution of Slavery Indians Indentured servants African American slaves
The Middle Passage The Journey aboard ship that African slaves took from Africa to America Branded with Irons, whipped and beat, lived in their own vomit and waste, disease, suicide 20 percent died on the Journey
Lifestyle of a Slave 80-90% of slaves worked in fields 10-20% worked in houses Fulltime work from 12 years old to death Overseers Were in charge of making sure slaves worked Would often beat and punish slaves
Africans Cope in their New World Culture & Family Weaving and baskets Musical Traditions Dance
The Plantation Economy Plantations are expensive to run because they take a lot of labor Slaves were cheap labor and did back breaking work Cleared fields, drained swamps, and eventually worked in fields to grow crops Cotton Indigo Tobacco Rice
The Planter Class The Social Elite – Upper Class Very few, but had the most power Bought up small farms to create one large farm Farmers with 1 or 2 slaves could not compete