The British and Jamestown Jamestown first permanent British colony in North America Located in Chesapeake region, called Virginia No gold, climate unsuitable for crops Tobacco became mainstay of Virginia White laborers produced most tobacco in Chesapeake colonies

Africans Arrive in the Chesapeake 1619, 32 people of African descent at Jamestown Dutch bring 20 Angolans to Jamestown New arrivals regarded as unfree not slaves England had no slave laws Some Angolans Christian, Christians could not be enslaved

Africans Arrive in the Chesapeake (cont'd) First black person born in English America Parents baptized in Church of England Born free Africans remained small minority in expanding Virginia colony

Black Servitude in the Chesapeake Demand for tobacco expanded, indentured servitude grew Blacks, whites sold freedom for set time Could expect to live as free people Free black men became landowners British assumed Africans were alien British make slaves property of masters

Race and the Origins of Black Slavery Economic, demographic developments led to enslavement of Africans Precedent set for enslaving Africans Less poor white laborers available African slaves become less costly British assumed Africans were inferior Status of black servants different than whites Black servants would serve masters for life

The Emergence of Chattel Slavery Children of black female servants, slaves for life Counter to English law, where status derives from father Enslaved Africans, African Americans had status of domestic animals Masters who killed slaves exempted from felony charges Slaves held accountable for transgressions

The Emergence of Chattel Slavery (cont'd) Slave codes Colonial and state laws that defined the status of slaves and the prerogatives of masters Manumission The act of freeing a slave by the slave’s master

Bacon’s Rebellion and American Slavery Black slaves, white indentured servants unite against elite Bacon dies before rebellion can occur Elite realize danger of freed, white indentured servants Planters switch to enslaved black labor force Whites freedom, prosperity rest on denying blacks freedom

Plantation Slavery 1700–1750

Tobacco Colonies Tobacco, rice colonies’ economies dependent on black slaves Black laborers’ living conditions varied Some masters worked together with slaves Some masters divided slaves among many holdings Before mid-eighteenth century nearly all slaves were fieldworkers

Tobacco Colonies (cont'd) Masters wanted slaves to work harder, faster After 1750 some black men had skilled occupations Black women worked in fields, homes

AFRICANS BROUGHT AS SLAVES TO BRITISH NORTH AMERICA, 1701– 1775

Plantation Technology Africans learned crop technology, trades Slaves prepared tobacco leaves for market Slaves turned indigo plants into blue dye Slaves served as carpenters, blacksmiths Slaves tanned leather, slave artisans made boots, garments

Slave Life in Early America

Slave Life in Early America (cont'd) Food staple corn, yams, salt pork Rice important in South Carolina low country

Miscegenation and Creolization

Interracial sexual contacts between blacks, whites, Indians White assemblies feared creation of mixed- race class Creolization led African parents to produce African-American children Miscegenation, creolization together caused physical, cultural change

The Origins of African-American Culture Retained West African heritage Extended families as reaction to slavery Families helped others adapt, sheltered escapees Families influenced African American naming practices African religions persisted in America Even when converted to Christianity indigenous practices remained

The Origins of African-American Culture (cont'd) Incest taboos Customary rules against sexual relations and marriage within family and kinship groups Spirit possession A belief rooted in West African religions that spirits may possess human souls Divination A form of magic aimed at telling the future by interpreting a variety of signs

This eighteenth-century painting of slaves on a South Carolina plantation

The Great Awakening Evangelical ministers preach spirtiual equality Africans Africans link spiritural equality to earthly equality General African conversion Africans influence church services

The Great Awakening (cont'd) Development of distinct African-American church Blacks segregated in white churches Masters used church to teach obedience African-American Christianity blended West African, European elements

The African-American Impact on Colonial Culture (cont'd) African-American imprint on southern diction Black women raised white children White children acquired African-American specch patterns Blacks influenced white notions of remedies, cooking

Slavery in the Northern Colonies Slavery less extensive in north than south Small numbers, close to masters, isolation Northern slaves had fewer opportunities to preserve African heritage In Middle colonies curfews kept slaves isolated

Black Women in Colonial America Black men valued higher than black women Worked in fields until giving birth Suffered complications giving birth Changed from fieldworkers to house servants Subjected to sexual exploitation

Black Resistance and Rebellion Slavery in America relied on physical force African Americans responded by resisting Some escaped, established maroon communities Rebellious slaves in Charleston, steal ammuntion, plunder plantations White southerners never lost fear of slave revolt