The Colonies

The Southern Colonies Slavery’s firmest hold in the southern colonies—North and South Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, and Georgia. By 1708 Virginia imported 1,000 slaves each year; South Carolina had black majority by 1760.

Conditions in the South Plantation system Economics ruled south with large profitable estates—plantations Grew cash crops for high prices in Europe Sold tobacco, rice, cotton, and indigo, a dark blue dye Labor intensive Slaves provided labor; were the backbone of southern colonial economy Without slaves economy would collapse More cash crops Demand for crops grew; planters bought more land, needed more slaves Vicious cycle kept institution of slavery strong in the South for years

Slaves on Plantations Treatment Large plantation hundreds of slaves Whipped and beaten; forced to work six days in the fields Many died from exhaustion and malnutrition Slept in tiny cabins crammed with people; some only allowed shoes in winter Brutal overseers supervised Strict rules Governed behavior by strict rules, needed written permission to leave plantation Breaking rules resulted in severe punishments Some planters saw themselves as father figures; viewed slaves almost as children; such slaves were not beaten but were still forced to work long hours with no freedom

Slaves on Smaller Southern Farms Not everyone lived on plantations Majority of farms were small family operations Only ten percent of the South’s population lived on plantations That ten percent owned ninety percent of the region’s wealth Slavery not confined to plantations Small southern farms had slaves Most farmers owned only one or two slaves Owners often worked side by side in fields with slaves; shared labor These slaves not treated as poorly as slaves on large plantations

Slave Revolts Slaves took action As early as 1660s, Virginia slaves planned revolts against masters; some plans discovered before revolts carried out, others took place with slaveholders killed Two slave ship revolts made ships turn back to Africa Fear grew Planters feared being in minority; some tried to restrict or ban entry of new slaves Planters still wanted practice of slavery but in controlled numbers; British refused to halt profitable slave trade

Slavery in the Middle Colonies Slavery permitted Middle colonies—Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York Slavery not central to economy Economies of colonies Based on trade, manufacturing not agriculture; no plantations for slaves to work on Worked construction or in factories, lumber camps Big cities Highly skilled slaves trained in certain crafts Skilled slave could work as mason, shipwright, goldsmith or glazier Indentured servants Business owners sought other labor sources; manual labor done by indentured servants Worked for passage and place to live for set period of time

Objection to Slavery Indentured servants used as laborers Many in middle colonies objected to idea of slavery Two religious groups prominent in Pennsylvania objected Quakers and Mennonites Members of both groups published works criticizing slavery Viewed as evil institution; against God’s law First official protest Came from group of Quakers in 1688 declaring views against slavery Germantown residents appalled at thought of Christians owning slaves Protest had little widespread effect Set precedent for other Quaker and Mennonite settlements

Treatment of slaves in the Middle Colonies Slaves in middle colonies treated poorly Highly skilled ones could avoid rough treatment, but construction and factory workers not spared Evidence of this found in 1991 in Manhattan grave excavations

New England Colonies Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire Slavery less common in the North Built houses and other structures Restrictions placed on their activities; still had more rights than in other areas Allowances Socialize Participate in community events Held elections for kings and governors

Slavery Immoral New Englanders opposed Treatment of slaves Many felt slavery immoral; protested against it Puritan minister Cotton Mather argued in late 1600s that Africans were people who deserved to be freed; refusing to do so was unchristian Treatment of slaves Treatment better in New England but slavery remained evil institution Some worked slaves harshly and limited their rights Many northern business owners were active participants in slave trade; transported and sold captured Africans