1. The Middle Passage and the Rise of Slavery in the Colonies
THE SOUTH
The Middle Passage and
the Rise of Slavery in the Colonies

2. Do Now
In a minute, I will ask you to complete a task. Do so quickly and quietly.
FOCUS!!!!!!!!
After the task is complete, you will return to your seats and answer the following questions:
What sorts of emotions did you feel?
How would you describe your physical state?
If you were forced to stay like this for a longer period of time, how would you react?
How long would be too long?

3. Economics vs. Humanity Why did slavery begin? Economic need
Plantation wealth
Understanding of Africans(?)
Free!

4. The South: Plantation Economy
Fertile soil allowed for the flourishing growth of cash crops such as tobacco, rice, and indigo.
Instead of towns and cities, the South was mainly concentrated with plantations.
Planters saw little need for shops, because all of what they produced on their farms could be used to sustain their families.

5. Indentured Servants
Lowest class citizens– white men had no rights as servants
Those who lived through their harsh years of labor (many didn’t) saw their lives improve only slightly.
Bacon’s Rebellion – What do we remember about indentured servants’ lives post-servitude?
Between 1/2 and 2/3 of all of the white male population were indentured servants
Numbers declined
Reports of hardship reached Europe
Depleted labor force + Growing agricultural economy = ??????

6. Slavery in the New World
Enslaving NA’s and indentured servants was failing – Colonists looked towards Africans
Natives were:
Reluctant to learn English labor techniques
Could easily escape
ECONOMICS:
Slaves cost more than servants, but a slave worked for life.
Much larger return for the “investment”

7. Slavery in the New World
Most white colonists saw dark skin as a sign of inferiority.
During the late 1600s, Africans were being used as slaves throughout the English West Indies colonies (Barbados, Jamaica)
Imported to work on large, prosperous sugar plantations
Good deal?
Free labor, not humans
PROPERTY

8. The Triangle Trade
Africans had become part of the transatlantic trading network, the “Triangular Trade”
Rum and other goods went from New England to Africa, received slaves in return
Transported slaves to the West Indies and received sugar in return
Shipped sugar to New England to turn into rum

11. Where did we buy slaves?
Even after Europeans began transporting black slaves to America, most trade was just that: "trade"
In most instances, the Europeans did not need to use any force to get those slaves.
The slaves were sold more or less legally by their black “neighbors”.
About 12,000,000 Africans were sold by Africans to Europeans before 1776.

12. How did they get here? The Middle Passage Horrors:
Considered the “middle leg” of the transatlantic trade route.
Horrors:
Branded with hot irons for identification
PACKED into dark holds of ships
Disease
Thrown overboard alive
Lack of food/water
Blood, sweat, vomit, urine, feces
20% of Africans perished on the journey.
This is a BUSINESS!!! Needs to be run as efficiently as possible.

15. Statistics By 1690 13,000 slaves in the Southern colonies
Slavery turned into an institution that would use cruelty to keep the Africans from rising against their owners.
80-90% worked in fields
10-20% worked in the house or as artisans

16. ALEXANDER FALCONBRIDGE
OLAUDAH EQUIANO
ALEXANDER FALCONBRIDGE
Make a list of all horrible conditions found in the brief primary document.
Share with the group nearest to you.

17. Homework
SIGNED permission slip: AMISTAD
VERY IMPORTANT!!!!