Aim: Why did slavery develop in the English colonies?

What conclusions can you make about slavery based on the information above?

I. Spanish and Portuguese slavery in the Americas A. First slaves were Native Americans – 1. By mid 16 th century, Catholic Church forbade the enslavement of Indians B. Portuguese traders began importing African slaves into the Americas – 1. African tribes along the west coast (especially kingdoms of Dahomey and Ashanti) grew rich trading prisoners of war or those kidnapped from weaker tribes – to 20 million Africans taken from their homeland – 3. Approximately ¼ died during the Middle Passage a. 60% settled in Caribbean b. 35% settled in Brazil c. 5% came to English colonies

II. Slavery in the American colonies A. first Africans arrive in Jamestown in 1619 – 1. brought by Dutch traders – 2. treated as indentured servants – 3. within 20 years, laws of Virginia made slavery a permanent and perpetuating condition – 4. By 1700 slavery existed in all colonies a. most slaves lived in South Carolina b. followed by the Chesapeake (VA and MD)

III. Reasons for Development of Slavery A. need for labor – 1. decline in number of indentured servants – 2. inability to enslave Indians – 3. tobacco farming required large plots of land and large numbers of workers B. Headright System—for each worker (indentured servant or slave) a planter paid for (transportaiton, etc.) he received 50 acres of free land C. Cost—although slaves cost more than indentured servants, they repaid their cost by length of service as well as having slave children D. Bacon’s Rebellion (1676) illustrated the threat of dissatisfied former indentured servants