Immigration and Slavery 3.1

Objectives Explain how European immigration to the colonies changed between the late 1600s and 1700s. Analyze the development of slavery in the colonies. Describe the experience of enslaved Africans in the colonies.

Key Parts Europeans Migrate to the Colonies Africans Are Transported to America Africans in the Americas

Read 3.1 As you read be thinking about each of the different people groups that moved into the colonies. Create a list of 2 facts for each group i.e. (English, Scots/Scotch-Irish, and Germans)

Europeans Migrate to the Colonies During the 1600s, about 90 percent of the migrants to the English colonies came from England. About half of these colonists were indentured servants. By 1660 the percentage of immigrants to the United States from England dropped dramatically. This was due to the fact that England's economy rose when the people began to leave.

The Scots/Scotch-Irish The Scottish migration grew immensely because of their general lack of income. Moving allowed them more opportunity. The Scots came in three waves, first from the lowlands, second from the high lands, and third from the northern Ulster region and these were considered the Scotch-Irish. Approximate 250,000 immigrated to the colonies during the 1700s.

The Germans Germans were second only to the Scotch Irish as 18th century emigrants. Most were protestants that came from the Rhine Valley and equaled approximately 100,000 in total. The reason Germans moved to the colonies, was due to the fact Germany’s princes began heavily taxing citizens to help fund the wars between the different principalities. Also cost of land was cheap and wages were generally higher with less taxation.

Africans Are Transported to America Slavery begins in the colonies in the 1600s. The slaves were initially treated like the indentured servants and were given land and clothing at the end of their work. Freed slaves could vote, own land, and own their own slaves. In the mid 1600s the colonies began to pass laws that supported the permanent enslavement of Africans.

Cont. Virginia’s General Assembly declared that “All servants imported who were not Christians in their native land shall be accounted as slaves and their children also.” This began the Transatlantic Slave Trade during the 1700s. The British Colonies imported approximately 1,500,000 enslaved Africans. The majority went to the West Indies, but at least 250,000 went to the 13 colonies.

Cont. Traders purchased slaves from African merchants and chiefs in the coastal kingdoms of West Africa. Most were kidnapped by armed African men. Or taken from wars between or within the kingdom. Europeans did not seize any slaves themselves; however they did buy them thus giving the demand portion to the supply. Also contrary to belief most of the slaves bought did not go to the colonies, most were re-sold to other countries.

Slavery cont. Triangular trade began; traders sailed from Europe to Africa, where they traded manufactured goods for enslaved Africans. Then, in the Middle Passage, shippers carried the enslaved Africans across the Atlantic to the American colonies. Most of the Africans during this voyage were traumatized by the conditions in which they were transported and being separated from their families. Ten percent of the slaves going across the Atlantic did not survive.

Africans in the Americas Slavery in the north and south varied. Southern slaves worked primarily in the fields whereas in the north they typically worked in factories, docks, or in the homes of their owner. Their were a few unsuccessful rebellions and some runaways; but generally the slaves worked and did as they were instructed.