1. Aim: How was early Southern plantation life organized?
Southern Plantations
From Servitude to Slavery
Aim: How was early Southern plantation life organized?

2. Early Southern Plantations
Aim: How was early Southern plantation life organized?

3. Aim: How was early Southern plantation life organized?
Headright System-1618
Colonists already residing in Virginia were granted two headrights, meaning two tracts of 50 acres each, or a total of 100 acres of land. Every individual immigrating to Va. would receive 1 tract
Goal?
Increase population-
Bring families!!! (even the kiddies got the land)
Increase tobacco production
Led to start of indentured servants b/c any anyone that can get someone to come, gets a headright
Aim: How was early Southern plantation life organized?

4. Aim: How was early Southern plantation life organized?
Indentured Servants
A contract, usually voluntary, where an individual would provide free labor for a specified time (3-7 years)
Why would they agree to this?
Desperation/ new life overseas
Learn a trade/room and board
Future $$$
Almost 90% of European immigration in 1st 100 yrs was from indentured servitude
Benefit for the master
Free, motivated worker
Chance for huge land gains!! (FFV’s)
½ died before service was up
Negative for the master???
Aim: How was early Southern plantation life organized?

5. Aim: How was early Southern plantation life organized?
Harsh Existence
Long work hours
Reduced land grants
Punishments of extending service
Severe Conditions!!!
40% died before service was up
Shows the major distinction between indentures and slaves!!!!
Slave owners want their slaves to live!! Masters want indentured servants to die!!!
Aim: How was early Southern plantation life organized?

6. Potential Problems for Owners
Eventually, indentures get 2 things!!!
Freedom
Their own land.. The bigger problem?
New competition for business!!!
Bacon’s Rebellion- 1676
Former indentures and poorer farmers got land further west… Problem?
Natives!! They wanted Gov. Berkeley to help kill or drive out the natives
Less women out there to marry!!
Battles between whites and natives
Nathaniel Bacon wanted military permission to kill the natives,
Berkeley refused, they did their own raid and killed entire native village
Aim: How was early Southern plantation life organized?

7. Aim: How was early Southern plantation life organized?
Bacon’s Rebellion-1676
“Declaration of the People of Virginia”
End rich rule
Unfair taxes
nepotism
Death/removal of all natives
Bacon, 500 men army, attacked Jamestown, burned it to the ground
Bacon died suddenly and rebellion died out
Impact of Bacon’s Rebellion
Berkeley removed/poor given voting rights and anti-native policies increased
Showed class tension, lasted for long time after
INDENTURED SERVITUDE IS A BIGGIE PROBLEM!!!! THE SOLUTION????????
WE CANT HAVE ANYMORE MORE WORKERS EVENTUALLY BE FREE AND COMPETE WITH THE RICH WHITE GUYS!!!
Aim: How was early Southern plantation life organized?

8. Aim: How was early Southern plantation life organized?

9. Aim: How was early Southern plantation life organized?
Rise of Slavery
Causes
Bacon’s Rebellion
Tobacco market failure
London fire 1666
Workers boom in London to rebuild city
Death rate!!
40 (…..) 36 (….) 19 (….)
Benefits
Free labor for life
Only slave population in history of world to increase its own population
Encouraged to marry
“breeding” incentives-
if female slaves had certain amount of children, they would receive freedom
No competition in the market
Africans had 2 big advantages over indentures or natives
Used to hot climate
Used to European diseases
Negatives
Potential revolts
They cost a lot of $$$$$$
To buy
Living costs
Aim: How was early Southern plantation life organized?

10. Early Colonial Slavery
Existed in both North and South
Chattel slavery- absolute ownership of the slave (ability to sell, trade, control)
1662- House of Burgesses passed “partus” law- all children would follow the status of the mother, not father
Why?
Only 5% of all African slaves came to North America
Aim: How was early Southern plantation life organized?

11. Aim: How was early Southern plantation life organized?

12. Aim: How was early Southern plantation life organized?
Early Slave Revolts
Stono Rebellion-1739
Killed over 40 whites
Led to Negro Act 1740
10 yr ban on importing of slaves
Can’t assemble/ educate/penalties against harsh treatment of slaves/ guns must be brought to church!!
NY Revolt 1712
NY Conspiracy 1741
Aim: How was early Southern plantation life organized?

13. Aim: How was early Southern plantation life organized?