Why did a Slave society develop in colonial Virginia?

Big point! The shift to a slave society was not inevitable!

The status of Africans in 17th century Virginia was fluid and ambiguous until the establishment of slave codes at the turn of the 18th century.

Problems in Virginia Problem #1: Land but no labor! Lots of land! –Available and unused, from a English perspective

Problems in Virginia Problem #1: Land but no labor! Lots of land! –Available and unused, from a English perspective –Landowning tied to idea of “independence” Landowners had control of their lives and livelihood

Problems in Virginia Problem #1: Land but no labor! Lots of land! –Available and unused, from a English perspective –Landowning was tied to idea of “independence” Landowners had control of their lives and livelihood –Landlessness equated to “dependence” A tenant was subject to the landlord

Problem #2: Profitable commodity but no labor Plenty of land to grow tobacco and plenty of demand in Europe

Problem #2: Profitable commodity but no labor Plenty of land to grow tobacco and plenty of demand in Europe –Demand pushed production 60,000 lbs., in million lbs., in 1700

Tobacco’s popularity exacerbated the labor shortage

Labor intensive crop

Tobacco’s popularity exacerbated the labor shortage Labor intensive crop Many tedious, relatively unskilled, steps –Planting –Tending –Harvesting –Drying –Packing

Lots of land, profitable crop, but who’s going to work it? How about using Indians? –The Spanish did!

Lots of land, but who’s going to work it? Indians? –The Spanish did! Didn’t work in Virginia

Lots of land, but who’s going to work it? Indians? –The Spanish did! Didn’t work in Virginia –Could easily run away, knew the land

Lots of land, but who’s going to work it? Indians? –The Spanish did! Didn’t work in Virginia –Could easily run away, knew the land –Had “military” backing, support of allies

Lots of land, but who’s going to work it? Indians? –The Spanish did! Didn’t work in Virginia –Could easily run away, knew the land –Had “military” backing, support of allies –Had suffered depopulation

Lots of land, but who’s going to work it? Indians? –The Spanish did! Didn’t work in Virginia –Could easily run away, knew the land –Had “military” backing, support of allies –Had suffered depopulation –Too dispersed No encomiendas in British America

A solution: Indentured Servants

Indentured servants An indenture, or contract, to labor in exchange for passage to America.

Indentured servants An indenture, or contract, to labor in exchange for passage to America. Terms ranged from four to seven years

Indentured servants An indenture, or contract, to labor in exchange for passage to America. Terms ranged from four to seven years Few rights, often cruel treatment

Why would anyone do this?

To escape poverty in England!

Domestic problems in England Population growth

Domestic problems in England Population growth Eviction of tenant farmers

Domestic problems in England Population growth Eviction of tenant farmers Growing poverty and pressure on English cities

Opportunity for aspiring aristocrats Headright system

Opportunity for aspiring aristocrats Headright system –50 acres of land for passage of laborer

Opportunity for aspiring aristocrats Headright system –50 acres of land for passage of laborer –Often times ship’s captains transported potential servants and sold them upon arrival

Keeping up with the Byrds William Byrd I –To Virginia, 1670

Keeping up with the Byrds William Byrd I –To Virginia, 1670 –Grandfather, a ship’s captain

Keeping up with the Byrds William Byrd I –To Virginia, 1670 –Grandfather, a ship’s captain –Collected a substantial amount of “good” land in Virginia through headrights

“Good” land went quickly Wealthy able to grab up land along waterways

“Good” land went quickly Wealthy able to grab up land along waterways The Byrds’ land was along the James and Potomac rivers

“Good” land went quickly Wealthy able to grab up land along waterways The Byrds’ land was along the James and Potomac rivers Advantage to wealthy

But while everything was coming up tobacco, it was not coming up roses! Problems with indentured servants

Runaways

Problems with indentured servants Runaways Rights of Englishmen limited control by masters

Problems with indentured servants Runaways Rights of Englishmen limited control by masters Frustration upon completion of indenture

Little “good” land available –Distant from waterways –On fringe of English settlement

Moving toward African slavery Precedent in Latin America

Moving toward African slavery Precedent in Latin America –Caribbean, Brazil

Moving toward African slavery First African slaves to Jamestown, 1619

African slavery Very limited for most of the 17th century

African slavery Very limited for most of the 17th century –More expensive than servants Perpetual servitude

African slavery Very limited for most of the 17th century –High mortality among field hands Rigors of work, disease Slavery was a bad investment

African slavery: not a foregone conclusion Up until the last decades of the 17th century, black status in Virginia was fluid.

African slavery: not a foregone conclusion Up until the last decades of the 17th century, black status in Virginia was fluid –Free blacks, some who owned servants!

African slavery: not a foregone conclusion Up until the last decades of the 17th century, black status in Virginia was fluid –Free blacks, some who owned servants! –Black indentured servants

African slavery: not a foregone conclusion Up until the last decades of the 17th century, black status in Virginia was fluid –Free blacks, some who owned servants! –Black indentured servants –Black slaves

Over time, slavery began to make economic sense Increased longevity in colony

Over time, slavery began to make economic sense Increased longevity in colony –Slavery began to make sense economically

Over time, slavery began to make economic sense Increased longevity in colony –Slavery began to make sense economically Decreased supply of white servants

Over time, slavery began to make economic sense Increased longevity in colony –Slavery began to make sense economically Decreased supply of white servants –Improved conditions in England

Over time, slavery began to make economic sense Increased longevity in colony –Slavery began to make sense economically Decreased supply of white servants –Improved conditions in England –Other colonies (Pennsylvania, 1681)

Over time, slavery began to make economic sense Increased frustration of former servants –Slaves never became free!

When and why race-based slavery? Historians tend to agree that: –Indentured servitude as a model

When and why race-based slavery? Historians tend to agree that: –Indentured servitude as a model –Latin America as a model

When and why race-based slavery? Historians tend to agree that: –Indentured servitude as a model –Latin America as a model –Economic necessity

When and why race-based slavery? Historians tend to agree that: –Indentured servitude as a model –Latin America as a model –Economic necessity –African vulnerability in Virginia No rights, no support

When and why race-based slavery? Winthrop Jordan: prejudice/racism led to slavery –English pre-disposition toward Africans Negation of white

When and why race-based slavery? Winthrop Jordan: prejudice/racism led to slavery –English pre-disposition toward Africans Negation of white Deficient in religion and culture

When and why race-based slavery? Winthrop Jordan: prejudice/racism led to slavery –English pre-disposition toward Africans Negation of white Deficient in religion and culture –Stereotype: Africans inferior, less than human

Evidence: De facto slavery, , runaway servants –Severity of punishment based on race 1646, bill of sale –term of service for “Negros” is “forever” 1648, bill of sale –Black “servants” more expensive 1660, slave code –Blacks legally defined as slaves

When and why race-based slavery? Jordan: –Legally defined by the 1660s –Original English prejudice reinforced and bolstered by economic need and legal definitions. Slavery by custom became slavery by law.

When and why race-based slavery? Edmund Morgan: slavery led to prejudice/racism –Status of blacks ambiguous until late 17th century –Lower class whites and blacks enjoyed same rights

Black status ambiguous, fluid Could own property Could sue, testify against, whites Could own servants Class, not race, divided 17th century Virginia

When and why race-based slavery? Morgan: –A calculated strategy by elite plantation owners to divide the lower class by promoting white supremacy and black inferiority

When and why race-based slavery? Morgan: –A calculated strategy by elite plantation owners to divide the lower class by promoting white supremacy and black inferiority –An effort to quell the growing unruliness of frustrated former servants as illustrated by Bacon’s Rebellion in 1676.

Slavery supported legally and socially by 1700 Africans equated with slavery

Slavery supported legally and socially by 1700 Africans equated with slavery –Manumission limited

Slavery supported legally and socially by 1700 Africans equated with slavery –Slavery and racism reinforced each other blacks are slaves so must be inferior, since they are inferior, it is proper that they be slaves