The Development of Slavery in the Early American Colonies, Essay Example

Introduction

Slavery was brought to the Americas through the European Colonialists . Most of this was focused upon minority groups and the exploitation of these by the predominately white land owners. This created a power struggle of politics and economics where racism and sexism escalated conflict. It was in the year of 1619 the first shipment of black slaves were brought to the Americas. In order to serve the white colonists. Most of these being located in Jamestown, Virginia, and to be used as a source of cheap labour. Slaves did not readily accept the position of enslavement. In this letter. Revolts during the period 1720 to 93. The white landowners put down such reports with considerable force and hanged many slaves in order to set an example to others who would revolt. Four petitions against slavery were made during 1773 to 1777. Slavery was an extremely cruel institution imposed by the white colonists on the important Negro population from Africa.

Founding Fathers

Both Washington , Jefferson and Maddison had slaves that helped to run their considerable estates. As such they were advocates of slavery. John Adams however was against slavery and an abolitionist but in reality little was accomplished at this time to reduce the use of slavery for running estates, plantations and servitude to the wealthy. Washington’s plantation home of Mount Vernon is an example of where the slaves helped to run a busy plantation but were treated relatively well. The Slaves were an integral part of the business of running the plantation. The slave house shows an area where as many as 15-20 slaves shared a communal living complex. Other slaves worked at the Mansion House Farm and lived above the places where they worked i.e. Carpenters Shop, Blacksmiths, and Shoe Makers etc. Each person received rations and blankets and would maintain a small plot where they could grow fruit and vegetables. The work was 6 days with Sundays off. On the day off, they were allowed to hunt, fish, visit friends or play sports. In general terms they were well treated but had to work hard in order to maintain the working life of a busy plantation farm.

Conclusion

In 1790 the slave trade supported 1000 tons of cotton and in 1860 the South had increased this to 1 million tons. In the same era slaves had increased from 400,000 to over 4 million. It was in 1607 that England placed hundred and five colonists in Virginia and the settlement was called Jamestown. After 15 years the settlement had only 1200 residents. It was the discovery of tobacco that created a boom time which remained through the 1620s. By the end of the 17th century. Virginia was listed as England’s most profitable overseas colony. It created a huge return in tobacco revenue. The success was largely due to the huge slave trade that was built up in order to harvest this tobacco. The Chesapeake Bay was a huge dock that contained slave ships and cargo ships bound for Europe. Virginia settlers were only concerned with wealth creation, and getting rich quickly. They cared little about the morality of slavery or the welfare of others. It was President Abraham Lincoln and the Civil war that paved the way towards abolition of slavery.