Indentured Servitude and SlaveryIndentured Servitude and Slavery

Essential Questions:2.How would one characterize indentured servitude?3.How did slavery develop in the colonies?4.How did the slave codes impact the conditions of slaves?

Indentured ServitudeIndentured Servitude Laborer is under contract of

employer

◦ Usually 3 to 7 years

◦ Worked in exchange for transportation, food, drink, clothing, lodging, etc.

Unlike a slave, an indentured servant works only for a limited term

Recruited from the unemployed poor people in England

Laborers faced deadly conditions

◦ Word of the conditions spread

◦ Indentured servants decreased

The First SlavesThe First Slaves First Africans brought to North

America landed in Virginia (1619)◦ Treated as indentured servants◦ Many Africans won their freedom

Over time the meaning of slavery changed (1650 )

British economy improved◦ British indentured servants

declined as poor British citizens found economic opportunities

Bacon's Rebellion ◦ First rebellion in the colonies over

land◦ Wealthy land owners worried

about creating a large class of landless and poor white men

◦ Many were former indentured servants

Slavery in New England and the Slavery in New England and the Middle ColoniesMiddle Colonies New England

◦ Puritans saw themselves as God's Elect, or chosen people

◦ Had no difficulty with slavery

◦ Predestination supported slavery

◦ Said God meant for blacks to serve whites

Middle Colonies

◦ The slave population in Pennsylvania grew very slowly Largely because of Quaker

opposition

◦ Pennsylvania saw Blacks as equal to whites

Slavery in the SouthSlavery in the South At first Blacks who finished their servitude

were given land and considered free

◦ Ensured growth of free black population

◦ Settlers still needed laborers

So…colonists tried using forced Indian labor

◦ Colonists learned that this didn't work

◦ Indians knew the land and outnumbered the colonists

Colonists turned back to African slave labor

◦ Virginia recognized slavery in 1661

◦ There were more than120,000 blacks in Virginia by 1756

Led to a fear of slave rebellions occurring

Slave CodesSlave Codes Laws that gave slave owners absolute

power over their slaves

What did the codes say?◦ Restricted movement of slaves◦ Set down punishment for offenses◦ Example: Robbery was punishable

by 60 lashes and the slave’s ears were cut off

The Slave Codes of 1705◦ Enacted by the House of

Burgesses◦ Slaves were considered by the law

as real estate, not human beings◦ Served as a model for other

American colonies