SLAVERY IN THE AMERICAN SLAVERY IN THE AMERICAN COLONIESCOLONIES

The introduction of Africans to the English The introduction of Africans to the English colonies in America occurred in Virginia when in colonies in America occurred in Virginia when in 1619 a Dutch ship captain stopped in 1619 a Dutch ship captain stopped in Jamestown in need of provisions.Jamestown in need of provisions.

Onboard were 20 West Africans whom he Onboard were 20 West Africans whom he offered in exchange for the goods he needed, offered in exchange for the goods he needed, but because the Africans had been but because the Africans had been Christianized, English law did not allow them to Christianized, English law did not allow them to be sold as slaves so they became servants be sold as slaves so they became servants instead.instead.

Virginia plantation owners however Virginia plantation owners however wanted more than servants. They wanted more than servants. They wanted slaves to work long hard hours wanted slaves to work long hard hours in the tobacco fields.in the tobacco fields.

How did slavery become legal in How did slavery become legal in America?America?

In 1640, a Virginia judge sentenced an In 1640, a Virginia judge sentenced an indentured African servant to life enslavement indentured African servant to life enslavement as punishment for running away.as punishment for running away.

Then in 1662, a law provided that an African Then in 1662, a law provided that an African baby born in Virginia had the status of free or baby born in Virginia had the status of free or slave depending on its mother.slave depending on its mother.

Then finally in 1705, a Virginia law designated Then finally in 1705, a Virginia law designated slaves as real property that could be inherited as slaves as real property that could be inherited as part of an owners estate.part of an owners estate.

Importing African slaves to work on Importing African slaves to work on Virginia’s tobacco plantations quickly Virginia’s tobacco plantations quickly became common, but England’s other became common, but England’s other colonies would need workers too.colonies would need workers too.To meet the need for cheap labor they To meet the need for cheap labor they would turn to indentured servants. These would turn to indentured servants. These were immigrants – usually poor white and were immigrants – usually poor white and young who agreed to work for servants for young who agreed to work for servants for anyone paying their way to the colonies.anyone paying their way to the colonies.

They worked as indentured servants for 4 to 7 They worked as indentured servants for 4 to 7 years after which they would become a free years after which they would become a free person as the other colonists.person as the other colonists.Indentured servants didn’t always satisfy the Indentured servants didn’t always satisfy the people they worked for often refusing to do people they worked for often refusing to do certain kinds of work and they often ran away certain kinds of work and they often ran away before their indenture was worked off.before their indenture was worked off.Many landowners preferred using African slaves Many landowners preferred using African slaves to work their plantations because they worked to work their plantations because they worked harder, they did not have to replace them every harder, they did not have to replace them every few years, and it was harder for them to run few years, and it was harder for them to run away because of their skin color.away because of their skin color.

In 1672, England chartered the Royal African In 1672, England chartered the Royal African Company to supply slaves from Africa to her Company to supply slaves from Africa to her colonies in North America and the West Indies. colonies in North America and the West Indies.

A system known as the triangular trade took A system known as the triangular trade took place. Here New England rum was shipped place. Here New England rum was shipped directly to Africa, where it was sold for payment directly to Africa, where it was sold for payment in newly captured slaves, who were taken to the in newly captured slaves, who were taken to the West Indies and sold to sugarcane planters. West Indies and sold to sugarcane planters. Money from the sale of the salves was used in Money from the sale of the salves was used in making more rum.making more rum.

Most captured African slaves did not end Most captured African slaves did not end up in the Americas however, most would up in the Americas however, most would end up in Brazil, West Indies, or Mexico end up in Brazil, West Indies, or Mexico were they would work in mines or sugar were they would work in mines or sugar plantations.plantations.

SLAVERY IN GEORGIASLAVERY IN GEORGIA

The trustees had intended that there be no The trustees had intended that there be no slavery in Georgia and Oglethorpe slavery in Georgia and Oglethorpe vigorously opposed any attempts to bring vigorously opposed any attempts to bring in slaves.in slaves.

In December 1738 a group of Savannah In December 1738 a group of Savannah colonists known as “Malcontents” colonists known as “Malcontents” petitioned the trustees to allow slaves in petitioned the trustees to allow slaves in Georgia. Georgia.

They argued that they could never raise They argued that they could never raise enough products to export without help. enough products to export without help.

Other Georgians objected to slavery and Other Georgians objected to slavery and in January 1739, Scottish settlers at in January 1739, Scottish settlers at Darien asked the trustees to keep their Darien asked the trustees to keep their ban on slavery because having slaves ban on slavery because having slaves would take away the white settlers will to would take away the white settlers will to work hard.work hard.

They also said, “It is shocking to human They also said, “It is shocking to human nature, that any race of mankind should be nature, that any race of mankind should be sentenced to perpetual slavery… freedom sentenced to perpetual slavery… freedom to them must be as dear as to us.”to them must be as dear as to us.”The trustees rejected the Savannah The trustees rejected the Savannah petition but slaves were brought in anyway petition but slaves were brought in anyway because some rented them from their because some rented them from their Carolina owners or simply snuck them in.Carolina owners or simply snuck them in.

Georgia’s colonists argued that the Georgia’s colonists argued that the climate was too hot for white farm climate was too hot for white farm workers and rice could be raised only workers and rice could be raised only by black workers.by black workers.

Finally in 1750 the trustees gave in.Finally in 1750 the trustees gave in.

SLAVE CODESSLAVE CODES

The growing number of slaves in the The growing number of slaves in the colony resulted in laws known as slave colony resulted in laws known as slave codes to govern their behavior and codes to govern their behavior and regulate their treatment.regulate their treatment.

The 1770 Slave Code provided that: The 1770 Slave Code provided that:

1.1. The offspring of slaves were to remain The offspring of slaves were to remain absolute slaves and to be the personal absolute slaves and to be the personal property of their owners.property of their owners.

2.2. slaves could not travel outside the town or slaves could not travel outside the town or plantation limits without a ticket signed by a plantation limits without a ticket signed by a responsible person or they would be whipped.responsible person or they would be whipped.

3.3. If a slaves struck a white person they slave If a slaves struck a white person they slave would suffer after trial and conviction any would suffer after trial and conviction any punishment the justice thought fit not punishment the justice thought fit not extending to life or limb for the 2nd offense extending to life or limb for the 2nd offense punishment was death.punishment was death.

1.1. any person employing a slave on the any person employing a slave on the Lord’s Day except in work of absolute Lord’s Day except in work of absolute necessity must forfeit 10 shillings.necessity must forfeit 10 shillings.

anyone teaching a slave to write or read anyone teaching a slave to write or read would forfeit a sum of 20 pounds.would forfeit a sum of 20 pounds.