Beginnings of Slavery in the Americas

Warm-Up (IN Page 29 TOP) Write down everything you know about slavery or the slave trade. (Make sure to use COMPLETE SENTENCES) Based on our discussions, what was slavery like in Spanish-controlled America? Slavery in Spanish-controlled America was…

Set-up IN Pages for Cornell Notes Put your “Summary Section” at the bottom of page 28 ONLY Title: Atlantic Slave Trade Essential Question: What led to the growth of slavery in the Americas?

Origins of American Slavery Sugar plantations changed slavery: Old SlaveryNew Slavery Worked as servants or laborers in fields and mines Often captured in battle or sold to pay off debts Some were treated respectfully and allowed to marry or own property Children of slaves were allowed to go free Slaves were purchased from African traders Treated harshly (owners were racist) Usually not allowed to own property or marry Children were kept by owners to work as slaves

Why Enslave Africans? Spanish and Portuguese settlers in America chose to enslave Africans for the following reasons: Africans were immune to most European diseases Africans had no friends or family in the Americas to help them resist or escape Africans provided a permanent source of free labor (children became slaves) Many Africans were experienced farmers

The Slave Trade Lasted from early 1500s to the mid-1800s American colonies became dependent on slave labor European slave traders worked with West African kings to obtain slaves

The Middle Passage By the late 1800s, about 12 million Africans had been enslaved and shipped to the Western Hemisphere. Approximately 2 million died just on the voyage to America

The Middle Passage- Conditions Hundreds of slaves were crammed into a space so small they could not stand up Disease spread rapidly

Slavery in the Americas Once the slave ships arrived in America, slaves were sold at auctions Most were sold to work in fields or mines Some worked as servants

Resistance to Slavery Many ran away (formed communities with Native Americans) Some rebelled Slave codes were meant to regulate the treatment of slaves but most were designed to punish slaves

Influence of Slavery in the Americas Aside from their vast knowledge of farming and animals, African slaves brought their artistic heritage to America Dance Music Storytelling