Slavery in Colonial North America

Slavery in Colonial North America

History of European Slavery

History of European Slavery

• Practiced by Greek Democracies• Accounted for a large portion of Roman wealth• Middle Ages: house slaves common in

Mediterranean region • 15th century pope forbids enslaving Christians• Portuguese sought access to African slave trade– Used on sugar plantations on Mediterranean

Islands

• Practiced by Greek Democracies• Accounted for a large portion of Roman wealth• Middle Ages: house slaves common in

Mediterranean region • 15th century pope forbids enslaving Christians• Portuguese sought access to African slave trade– Used on sugar plantations on Mediterranean

Islands

African SocietiesAfrican Societies

• Kinship bonds• Polygyny• Lower birth rates• Women - higher social status than Europe • Shifting cultivation • Trading centers - Timbuktu • Slavery was practiced but differed from

European

• Kinship bonds• Polygyny• Lower birth rates• Women - higher social status than Europe • Shifting cultivation • Trading centers - Timbuktu • Slavery was practiced but differed from

European

Slave TradeSlave Trade

• All Western Europe nations

• Costal outposts– Inland raids by rival tribes

• English - John Hawkins, Royal African Company 1672 (loses monopoly in 1698)

– Independent slavers from New England – Fortunes made

• All Western Europe nations

• Costal outposts– Inland raids by rival tribes

• English - John Hawkins, Royal African Company 1672 (loses monopoly in 1698)

– Independent slavers from New England – Fortunes made

The Middle PassageThe Middle Passage

• Baraccons > waiting ships• “rammed like herring into a barrel”

• Torn flesh• 3 weeks to 3 months• “the dancing slave”• Sanitation?• 1/6 perished• Revolts• Drowning

• Baraccons > waiting ships• “rammed like herring into a barrel”

• Torn flesh• 3 weeks to 3 months• “the dancing slave”• Sanitation?• 1/6 perished• Revolts• Drowning

Olaudah EquianoOlaudah Equiano

The 1st Slave AuctionNew Amsterdam, 1655

The 1st Slave AuctionNew Amsterdam, 1655

North American SlaveryA Society With Slaves 1619-1670’s

North American SlaveryA Society With Slaves 1619-1670’s

• 20 to VA in 1619• Remained low for decades

– Indentured servants more cost effective

• Society with Slaves v Slave Society

• Africans owning Africans?

• 20 to VA in 1619• Remained low for decades

– Indentured servants more cost effective

• Society with Slaves v Slave Society

• Africans owning Africans?

North American SlaveryA Slave Society 1670’s-1770’sNorth American SlaveryA Slave Society 1670’s-1770’s

• Indentured servitude dwindles– Higher wages in Britain– Better opportunity in other colonies– Planters feared landless whites

• Inheritable slavery written into law

• VA slave code 1705– serves as model

• Indentured servitude dwindles– Higher wages in Britain– Better opportunity in other colonies– Planters feared landless whites

• Inheritable slavery written into law

• VA slave code 1705– serves as model

Upper South (Chesapeake)Upper South (Chesapeake)

• Tobacco • Necessary?• Better fed and “cared for” than Caribbean region

• By 1750’s 80% native born

• Tobacco • Necessary?• Better fed and “cared for” than Caribbean region

• By 1750’s 80% native born

Lower SouthLower South

• Rice & Indigo• Much larger plantations• S. Carolina began as slave society

• Georgia prohibited slavery from 1732 until 1752

• Rice & Indigo• Much larger plantations• S. Carolina began as slave society

• Georgia prohibited slavery from 1732 until 1752

Slavery in the NorthSlavery in the North

• Societies with slaves• Acceptable institution• Large concentrations in some areas but relatively uncommon in the countryside of NE

• Antislavery movement begins among Quakers (early 18thC) & in Philadelphia 1750’s

• Societies with slaves• Acceptable institution• Large concentrations in some areas but relatively uncommon in the countryside of NE

• Antislavery movement begins among Quakers (early 18thC) & in Philadelphia 1750’s

Daily Life & CultureDaily Life & Culture

• “built the South”• Rural labor• Insufficient clothing = cost saving = inferior status

• Small farms – side by side with owner, better conditions but less autonomy

• Larger plantations – harder life but more autonomy

• “built the South”• Rural labor• Insufficient clothing = cost saving = inferior status

• Small farms – side by side with owner, better conditions but less autonomy

• Larger plantations – harder life but more autonomy

African Americansin colonial N. America

African Americansin colonial N. America

• Family – core institution but no legal status

• Slave codes• Sale of family members• Most managed to keep family intact – more profitable for master

• Family – core institution but no legal status

• Slave codes• Sale of family members• Most managed to keep family intact – more profitable for master

African Americansin colonial N. America

African Americansin colonial N. America

• Children named for family members

• African names give way to Anglo names by late 18thC

• Kinship bonds

• Children named for family members

• African names give way to Anglo names by late 18thC

• Kinship bonds

CultureCulture

• E Pluribus Unum• African religions until Great Awakening

• Burial dances• Multi-rhythmic music• Guinea-English dialect

• E Pluribus Unum• African religions until Great Awakening

• Burial dances• Multi-rhythmic music• Guinea-English dialect