Slavery in Africa Slaves represented the bottom stratum of African society Different from slavery as...
Transcript of Slavery in Africa Slaves represented the bottom stratum of African society Different from slavery as...
Slavery in Africa• Slaves represented the
bottom stratum of African society
• Different from slavery as it developed in the Americas
• Most African slaves were captives of war
• Slavery in Africa not permanent or hereditary
• Assimilation
Africans enslaved by other Africans
Indentured Servitude• A means for people to get
to the New World• Master paid for passage to
America• Indentured servant then
owed 5–7 years of work• Once indenture was paid,
servant became free• Indentured servants
initially more desirable than slavesA certificate of indenture
The Origins of American Slavery
• First African slaves in America brought to Jamestown in 1619
• Slavery institutionalized in many states by 1640
• Slaves became “chattel property”
African slaves landing at Jamestown, 1619
Development of Slavery in the New World
• Using Native Americans as slaves problematic
• African slaves became more cost effective than indentured servants
• Colonists viewed blacks as inferior
• Slaves were servants for life
South American Indians captured as slaves by Europeans
The Middle Passage
• Voyage of slaves from Africa to the New World
• Slaves tightly packed in ships’ holds
• Filthy conditions• Disease outbreaks• Some 20% died during
the voyage to America
Diagram of a tightly packed slave ship
The Triangular Trade• Involved Europe,
Africa, and the Americas
• Trade goods carried to Africa for slaves
• Slaves taken to the Americas and traded for raw materials
• Raw materials sent to Europe to be made into trade goods
Slave Auctions• Slaves
“seasoned”• Slaves
auctioned in a manner similar to livestock
• Inspected by potential buyers
• “Grab and go” auctions
Slave auctions such as the one depicted here were common in the colonial era and after the Revolutionary War
African Americans in the Revolution
• Blacks fought for both sides
• British promised freedom to slaves
• Washington originally denied black enlistments
• Rhode Island free black regiment
Crispus Attucks, a former slave, was one of those killed by British troops in the 1770 Boston Massacre
Slavery and the Constitution• Slavery a major issue at
Constitutional Convention• Northern delegates wanted
to count slaves for taxation, but not legislative representation
• Southern delegates wanted to count slaves for representation, but not taxation
• “Three-fifths compromise”
State Constitutions and Slavery• Northern states abolish
slavery in their constitutions
• Vermont first with “conditional abolition”
• Other state constitutions established gradual emancipation
• Constitutions in New York and New Jersey eliminated slavery, but enacted “apprenticeship” programs
Slavery and the Northwest Ordinance
• Ordinance designed to create from three to five new states out of the Northwest Territory
• Slavery not permitted in the new states
• Some settlers brought slaves with them to the territories
Slavery and the Cotton Gin• Machine separates
cotton “lint” from seeds
• Invented by Eli Whitney• Made cotton
production more efficient and profitable
• Increased need for slaves in the South
Explosion in Cotton Production
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Cottonproduction(thousands ofbales)
Slavery in the North• Northern colonies relied less
on agriculture; thus, fewer slaves needed
• Northern slaves mostly in cities or small farms
• Northern slaves had more legal rights than Southern slaves
• However, many Northern whites still considered blacks inferior
A slave being sold in New York, 1643
Decline of Slavery in the North• States pass laws
abolishing slave trade• Abolitionist societies
grow in North• Religious groups take the
lead• Congregational Church;
Quakers create groups• Slavery less an economic
necessity in the NorthJohn Jay, the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, campaigned to outlaw slavery in New York state
Economic Impact of Slavery on the North
• Provided work for many skilled and unskilled workers involved in processing slaves
• British mercantile policies affected the slave trade, which affected New England’s economy
• New England goods contributed to the “Triangular Trade”
• Slave trade made some wealthyEnslaved Africans landing at
an American port
Slavery in the South• Many worked as field hands; the rest were artisans
or house servants• Slavery entrenched in Southern society by 1860• Nearly one in every four Virginia families owned
slaves• More than 2,300,000 slaves in the lower South• More than 1,200,000 slaves in upper South• Nearly 430,000 slaves in the border states
Why Slavery FlourishedEconomically in the South
• Fewer urban centers• Predominantly
agricultural• “King Cotton”• Tobacco still a staple
crop
Slave Children• Slave infant
mortality rates high• Children generally
malnourished• Children forced to
work at an early age• Most labor involved
unskilled work“Picking Cotton on a Georgia Plantation”
Note the children working side-by-side with the adults in the field.
Life as a Slave• Most slaves worked as
agricultural laborers• Some served as house
servants and semi-skilled labor
• Slaves worked long hours in difficult conditions
• Some slaves given land to grow their own food