Date post: | 18-Jan-2016 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | georgina-york |
View: | 214 times |
Download: | 0 times |
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