Coercive Labor Systems Lesson 5

Background Features of coercive labor:Features of coercive labor: – maximum production at minimum labor cost – social hierarchy intensified – modes of justification (legal, philosophical, religious, economic)

Background Coercive labor systems we have studied:Coercive labor systems we have studied: – slavery: bondage labor – serfdom: labor = security – state service: temporary labor for govt.

Labor in Colonial America Indentured Servitude:Indentured Servitude: – British & French colonies – exchange labor for passage to America – 5-7 yr. contract – at end of contract, master grants land – over 60% died in last year of contract

Labor in Colonial America The Encomienda System:The Encomienda System: – Spanish America – royal land grant to colonist – rights to land, resources, & labor – similar to serfdom, controls native pop.

Labor in Colonial America The Mita System:The Mita System: – Spanish America; borrowed from Inca – Villages provide 1 wk. service to govt. every 3 mo. – Quotas remove local authorities – Popular in mining regions

Slavery in Colonial America Why use slavery?Why use slavery? – free labor! – tradition of enslaving conquered peoples – limited supply of European labor –Disease eliminates much of Indian slave pop.

The African Slave Trade Why Africans?Why Africans? – tolerance for Old World disease – familiar with large- scale agriculture & slave systems – tolerance for tropical climates – proximity

The African Slave Trade How is this slavery different?How is this slavery different? – breaks pattern— Africans aren’t conquered, but purchased – targets a specific race (other philosophical issues)

Variations Brazil & the Caribbean:Brazil & the Caribbean: – – primarily sugarcane production – short life expectancies – less cultural blending

Variations North America:North America: – – mostly cotton & tobacco prod. – Atlantic Slave Trade abolished in 1820—now must “maintain” slaves

Impacts Tremendous cultural & racial blendingTremendous cultural & racial blending Difficulties of integrating former laborers into mainstream societyDifficulties of integrating former laborers into mainstream society Resistance to these labor systems leads to open revolt in some cases (Haiti, Mexico)Resistance to these labor systems leads to open revolt in some cases (Haiti, Mexico)