Slavery in the Americas Slavery was practiced since the beginning of documented history. Spanish people used slaves to work on sugar plantations. Spanish and Portuguese expanded African slavery into Central and South American after enslaved Indians died of disease and mistreatment. 1619: the first recorded introduction of African slaves into Jamestown Only 20 slaves were purchased Slaves captured in Africa Slaves aboard ship—Middle Passage

SLAVE TRADE 7 to 10 million slaves brought to Americas. 10-20% died on ships (sickness) “The(y) are so wilful and loth (unwilling) to leave their own country, that they often leaped out of the canoes, boats, and ship, into the sea and kept under water till they drowned, to avoid being taken up.” Q: Why did they risk death by jumping out of the ship? Captured Africans forced to exist in crowded conditions

Growth of Slavery African to Americas, 1451-1810 African Slaves in English Colonies Brazil – 2,501,400 English Colonies – 2,013000 French Colonies – 1,600,000 Spanish Colonies – 945,600 Dutch Colonies – 500,000 348,000 – in North Africa 1,665,000 in English colonies in Caribbean islands Most of slaves came to Virginia from the Caribbean as field hands to plant, tend, and harvest tobacco. Increasingly used for tobacco, cotton, rice and indigo (blue dye) down South

This is called the Middle Passage BEGINNINGS OF SLAVERY This is called the Middle Passage

Indentured Servants Indentured servants became the first means to meet this need for labor. In return for free passage to Virginia, a laborer worked for four to five years in the fields before being granted freedom. The Crown rewarded planters with 50 acres of land for every inhabitant they brought to the New World.

1607-1700 Plantation owners were given 50 acres for every indentured servant they sponsored to come to America. Contract: Served plantation owner for 7 years as a laborer in return for passage to America. Once servant completed his contract, he/she was freed….They were given land, tools, seed and animals. However, they did not receive voting rights.

What factors led to the introduction of African slavery replacing indentured servitude as the labor force in the American Colonies? It proved more profitable for landowners to use slaves than to use indentured servants. Most indentured servants worked for a few years than gained their freedom.