Date post: | 18-Jul-2015 |
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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