The Tragic Evolution of Slavery 1620-1740

The Tragic The Tragic Evolution of Evolution of

SlaverySlavery

1620-17401620-1740

First ArrivalsFirst Arrivals

20 “Negars” arrive in Jamestown 20 “Negars” arrive in Jamestown and are sold to John Rolfe as a and are sold to John Rolfe as a means of labor.means of labor.

Initially worked side by side with Initially worked side by side with indentured servantsindentured servants

Initially allowed to work and support Initially allowed to work and support themselves with side jobs that many themselves with side jobs that many used to purchase their freedom.used to purchase their freedom.

Freed Slaves and Freed Slaves and AfricansAfricans

Could purchase landCould purchase land Lived in separate Lived in separate

communitiescommunities Could sue, own land, Could sue, own land,

possessed personal possessed personal freedom, and were freedom, and were NOT subject to NOT subject to immediate immediate inferiority.inferiority.

Slavery in the North Slavery in the North 1638: New 1638: New

Amsterdam 30% Amsterdam 30% slave. By 1644 it was slave. By 1644 it was only 15%. By 1644 it only 15%. By 1644 it was less than 5%.was less than 5%.

Why?Why? Usually “house Usually “house

slaves”, not field slaves”, not field slaves.slaves.

By 1700 the middle By 1700 the middle colonies population colonies population was only 3%was only 3%

Slave explosion: VirginiaSlave explosion: Virginia

20,000 in 170020,000 in 1700400,000 in 1770.400,000 in 1770. 25%25%45%45% Slave imports increase six fold in the Slave imports increase six fold in the

1818thth century. century. 96% of slaves imported to the South96% of slaves imported to the South Growth in Virginia: 1 in 20: 1660. Growth in Virginia: 1 in 20: 1660.

1700 it was 1 in 4!1700 it was 1 in 4!

Slavery across the Slavery across the ColoniesColonies

Slave ImportsSlave ImportsEstimated Imports

1451-1600 275,000

1601-1700 1,341,000

1701-1810 6,700,000

1811-1870 1,900,000

Slavery in South CarolinaSlavery in South CarolinaYear

Black Population (Thousands)

White Population (Thousands)

1700

3,000 (50%) 3,000 (50%)

1710

8,000 (72%) 3,000 (28%)

1720

12,000 (80%) 3,000 (20%)

1730

20,000 (67%) 10,000 (33%)

1740

40,000 (71%) 16,000 (29%)

Slave WomenSlave Women I consider the labor of I consider the labor of

a breeding slave a breeding slave woman as no object, woman as no object, that a slave child that a slave child raised every 2 years is raised every 2 years is of more profit than of more profit than the crop of the best the crop of the best laboring slave man.” laboring slave man.” Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson 17341734

Sally HemmingsSally Hemmings

Middle PassageMiddle Passage

10-20% died on the voyage.10-20% died on the voyage. 1/10 ships experienced significant 1/10 ships experienced significant

rebellionsrebellions Awful conditionsAwful conditions

Evolution of RaceEvolution of Race

1818thth century slaves found a much century slaves found a much different culture than their 17different culture than their 17thth century century counterparts. counterparts.

Gone were: freedom, chance to work Gone were: freedom, chance to work independently, the chance to purchase independently, the chance to purchase freedom, and the political rights they freedom, and the political rights they had.had.

Bacon’s rebellion had seen rich and poor Bacon’s rebellion had seen rich and poor collide in the 1670’s, the early 1700’s collide in the 1670’s, the early 1700’s saw them seem to unite against slaves.saw them seem to unite against slaves.

Va. Slave CodeVa. Slave Code

"All servants imported and brought into the "All servants imported and brought into the Country...who were not Christians in their Country...who were not Christians in their native Country...shall be accounted and be native Country...shall be accounted and be slaves. All Negro, mulatto and Indian slaves. All Negro, mulatto and Indian slaves within this dominion...shall be held slaves within this dominion...shall be held to be real estate. If any slave resist his to be real estate. If any slave resist his master...correcting such slave, and shall master...correcting such slave, and shall happen to be killed in such correction...the happen to be killed in such correction...the master shall be free of all punishment...as master shall be free of all punishment...as if such accident never happened." if such accident never happened."

Stono’s RebellionStono’s Rebellion

The deadliest revolt The deadliest revolt in Colonial America in Colonial America takes place in Stono, takes place in Stono, SC. Armed slaves SC. Armed slaves start marching to start marching to Florida and towards Florida and towards freedom, but the freedom, but the insurrection is put insurrection is put down and at least 20 down and at least 20 whites and more than whites and more than 40 blacks are killed. 40 blacks are killed.