How did Slavery Develop in the American Colonies? A uniquely “American” social feature

Making sense of slavery: Comparing: Development in: – The Chesapeake – The North – The “low country” Why all the detail? Not monolithic... A human relationship that changes over time -Yet, by 1700 all British American colonies rely on slavery

Making sense of slavery: Societies with slaves – Slavery one form of labor among many – Thus: Holdings smaller Status more fluid Not any less brutal Slave societies slavery is central mode of production master-slave relationship is model for all human relationships How does the transition to a slave society happen?

Creating Societies with Slaves: The North First slaves in North: were Atlantic creoles An economically marginal region

Creating a Slave Society: New Netherlands as a case study “agricultural workers, who are brought here at great expense, sooner or later apply themselves to trade, and neglect agriculture altogether.” Slaves filled the gap –by 1638, 30% of New Amsterdam’s population.

Slavery in New Netherlands Social implications of demand for labor: Negotiate right to live and work on their own Create assimilated community

The rest of the North: Overwhelmingly rural life – Especially Hudson River Valley, New Jersey and PA Social circumstances: – Live and work alongside whites – Work at wide range of tasks – Disproportionately urban Impact on Black culture – assimilation (and negotiation potential), yet alienation

Societies with Slaves: The Lowcountry First settlers include former Barbadians who hope to transplant sugar plantations and slavery Foiled by Amerindian neighbors – relations not stable; perpetual warfare Creates a frontier economy

Societies with Slaves: The Lowcountry Implications for enslaved people? – Most are Atlantic creoles, with a lot of knowledge about slavery and Europeans – Lots of room for negotiation: Economy means work independence Can end up with time for their own use: develop own economies External military threats – are armed, and potentially can earn freedom Frontier presents an opportunity to escape Maroon communities

Conclusions about 17 th Century American Societies with Slaves: slaves a small part of population harder to create an African-based culture economy dependent upon slaves – creates opportunities for autonomy slavery just one form of non-freedom among many types

Creating Slave Societies The transition in the Chesapeake: Shift from indentured servant labor to slaves after Bacon’s Rebellion, 1676: Causes: – Supply issues – cheaper slaves; fewer indentured servants after 1680s – Social issues – fear of social disorder based on class antagonism

Shift to slavery in the Chesapeake Consequences for African-American life: Slavery Africanized – To whites, seem beyond the pale of civilization Sharp deterioration in quality of life – Skewed sex ratios from importation of more males – Shifts in work conditions: patriarchal masters seek social control; create gang labor – Slaves treated with new control and cruelty Brute force used to sustain new economic regime Laws distinguish whites from Blacks, both free and enslaved

Creating a Slave Society: The Low- Country Discovering a staple crop: rice Degradation of Black quality of life – New demand for slave labor; Africanization of slavery Slaves now dominate population: by 1760, 60% of the population of region Transformation of work – Rice plantation conditions deadly – Population cannot reproduce itself until 1760s

Creating a Slave Society: The Low Country – Changes in 18 th century Whites leave plantations: patriarchy-at-a-distance New work system evolves: task labor – Self-policing of work translates into autonomy – Becomes a recognized right: restrictions and the Stono rebellion, 1739 Relative cultural isolation, and freedom

What about the North? Growing significance of slavery after 1700: – In shipping ports; commercial grain plantations in NY, NJ and PA Growing imports of slaves from Africa directly – Skewed sex ratios; family life deteriorates Restrictions on manumission; repression and anxiety – 1741 slave conspiracy hysteria

Conclusions: Why the transformation? 1. Key is shift to staple crop production 2. Drives demand for importations of slave laborers, and Africanization of slavery 3. Slaveholders solidify legal degradation and control – (Feel control of human property essential to political voice by 1787, 3/5 Compromise ensures extra representation for slave-owning whites) Yet, process pretty different depending on local circumstances: – No one African-American culture...