Slavery: The Origins in America

Slavery Slavery is a system where you can purchase and sell African Americans to work for you. They can be captured and forced to be slaves or you can be born into slavery. Some evidence believe that slavery began in 8,000 BCE in Africa. This continued from then on till today.

Slavery in America Slavery came over to the America’s with the conquest of Christopher Columbus, Francisco Pizarro and Hernan Cortes. They enslaved the natives and forced them to preform hard labor. Also, the Spanish, purchased slaves from the colony of Portugal.

Tenochtitlan

Slave Trade

Christopher Columbus

Hernan Cortes

Francisco Pizarro

Slavery in the America’s With the Spanish, Dutch, British and French all claiming territory in the Caribbean and North+South America, Slaves were brought over or purchased to help clear the lands.

Slavery in America The British introduce slaves to the American citizens. By the year 1804, all states north of the Mason- Dixon line abolished (got rid of) slavery or had laws to gradually get rid of slavery.

Mason-Dixon Line

Slavery In America By the late 1790’s to the 1800’s, the cotton industry was booming. (yes the stuff your shirt is made out of) They had these massive plantations (farms) that grew Cotton. The Cotton Industry became such a boom that is expanded all the way into the south west.

Plantations

Slavery in America These plantation owners also owned massive amounts of slave. They were making so much money because they didn’t have to pay their workers. The plantation owners were also growing other crops such as: tobacco, sugar cane and cotton.

Abolitionist Abolitionist: People who wanted to abolish slavery for good. During the time of the 1830’s the whole world began to abolish (get rid of) slavery. America was lagging behind. Most the states below the Mason and Dixon line did not abolish slavery. These people wrote newspaper articles and try to have slavery abolished in every state.

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln: Known as Honest Abe. Considered one of the greatest President of America. Was elected into office on 11/6/1860 He a Lawyer from Illinois. Lincoln wanted to abolish slavery in all states of America.

Abraham Lincoln The southern states became extremely upset when Lincoln was elected. They knew he could get support of having slavery abolished. Just 22 days after Abraham Lincoln took office, the 13 southern states left America. They created their own nation. They called them selves the Confederation

Confederate Flag