Colonial Slavery - Tagged

Colonial Slavery

• Focus on the history of slavery in America, examining its origins and effects.

Announcement for the Sale of Newly Imported Slaves

• Date & Location: Sale on May 6th at Abley-Ferry.

• Cargo Details: About 250 healthy Negroes from the Windward & Rice Coast.

• Health Precautions: Emphasis on preventing smallpox infection, with precautions in place and half having survived smallpox in their country.

• Advertisers: Austin, Laurens, & Appleby.

Distinct Features of American Slavery

• Exclusion from Society: Slaves had no legal rights and were not accepted as part of society.

• Inherent Status: Slave status was passed on to children, making it a hereditary condition.

• Labor Role: Primarily unskilled manual laborers on plantations and farms.

The Transatlantic Slave Trade

• Historical Context:

  • 1500s: Portuguese dominated the trade.

  • 1600s: Dutch took control.

  • 1700s: English became the main traders.

• Volume of Trade: 10-11 million slaves transported across the Atlantic:

  • 3.65 million to South America.

  • 3.32 million to the Caribbean.

  • 1.5 million to Mexico & Central America.

  • 600,000 to North America.

• Key Sources: Angola and Loango were the largest sources, with the Slave Coast dominating after 1740.

• Demographics: More men than women were shipped.

A Typical Slave Ship

• Dimensions: 80 to 90 feet long and 25 feet wide.

• Capacity: Could hold 300 to 450 slaves.

• Voyage Duration: Lasted 90 to 100 days with a mortality rate averaging 10-20%.

• Legislation: Slave trading was outlawed by the U.S. and U.K. in 1808; other countries followed in later years.

• Last Known Slave Ship: Crossed the Atlantic in 1867.

Transition to Slavery in the Chesapeake

• Initial Labor Sources: Virginia and Maryland initially relied on white indentured servants before the shift to slavery.

• Reasons for Change:

  • Land exhaustion post-1680 led to more demand for slave labor after Bacon's Rebellion (1675).

• Economic Shift: The relative price of slaves decreased over time, making them an appealing labor source.

Gradual Introduction of Slavery

• Price Fluctuation: Slave prices rose with demand.

  • 1735: 1 male slave traded for 19 cattle.

  • 1770: 1 male traded for 30 cattle.

• Population Growth: Number of slaves in Virginia increased significantly from 300 in 1650 to 3,000 by 1680, with natural reproduction after 1740 replacing importation.

  • Black population in Virginia grew from 7% in 1680 to 44% by 1750.

Concentration of Slavery in the South

• Commercial Agriculture: Slavery flourished in areas with commercial agriculture; only New York had a notable population of slaves outside the South.

• Statistics:

  • In 1700: 20,000 slaves (21% of total population).

  • In 1770: 400,000 slaves (40% of total population).

South Carolina and Barbados Connection

• Migration: Carolina (established 1663) was an offshoot of Barbados, adopting slavery immediately after a transition from indentured servitude.

• Demographics: By 1729, blacks outnumbered whites in South Carolina with 20,000 blacks to 10,000 whites.

Tobacco Plantation System

• Economic Dependence: Tobacco plantations operated on a consignment system, leading planters into debt and dependency on slave labor.

• Consequences: Larger plantations increased risks and dependence on fluctuating market prices, while slaves served as both property and labor, creating a dual source of wealth.

The Transformation of Southern Society

• Societal Shifts: Slavery transformed societal structures, leading to a new ruling class known as the planter aristocracy.

• Cultural Changes: Allowed slave owners more leisure time, shifting focus to aristocratic endeavors rather than manual labor.

• Women’s Roles: Freed white women from labor, leading to changes in marriage dynamics and increasing patriarchal authority.

Racism as a Mechanism of Control

• Racist Ideology Formation: Enslavement was reinforced through dehumanization and violence.

• Pejorative Assumptions: Africans were viewed as "black," "uncivilized," and "heathens,” serving as justification for brutality.

• Systematic Terror: Violence was institutionalized to maintain control among slaves and appease white populations.

Creating African-American Culture

• Agency of Slaves: Slaves had some control over their labor pace and could negotiate with masters.

• Cultural Integration: A distinct African-American culture emerged from a blend of West African and European traditions, alongside ongoing contributions to wider American culture.

• Free Blacks: Some free blacks achieved land ownership and skilled trades, demonstrating resistance to systemic oppression.