1. The Colonies

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

6. 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

7. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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