During the Colonial Era there was much debate regarding slavery. The north was primarily against slavery while the south was economically dependent on slavery. When colonist started to settle North America they had come from England for religious and political freedom. Many were subsistence farmers (raising just enough food to survive on, with perhaps a little surplus to sell or trade). There was no need for slaves. Later, in Virginia indentured servants were being used by land owners. These people could not pay their own way to the new world, so land owners would pay their way to the new world and the indentured servants would work four to seven years without pay for the person who paid their passage. Later, in the 1600's, fewer indentured servants were coming to the colonies and planters were in need of workers. To solve the problem, planters adopted slavery. Under this system, workers belonged to their owners for life. Plantation owners from the south began buying slaves from Africa in large numbers. There were also some slaves in the northern colonies but, most of the colonist in the north were still subsistence farmers. Religious convictions did not condone on

In 1772 during the colonial period George Washington made his first impact on Black Relations in the colonies. He became a member of the House of Burgesses which drafted a petition to the throne labeling the importation of slaves into the colonies from the coast of Africa "a trade of great inhumanity" that would endanger the "very existence of your Majesty's American dominions." And, in July 1974 Washington was involved in a composition in Fairfax which recommended that no slaves should be imported into the British colonies. The resolutions declared "that their most earnest wishes to see and entire Stop forever put to such a wicked cruel and unnatural Trade. (John P. Kennedy p. 10: 119-28)." At the same time George Washington was petitioning the throne to end the importation of slaves to the colonies he had bought five additional slaves for his plantations.

In 1778 Washington suggests to Congress not to let slaves serve in the continental army because they are unreliable and, "could not be sufficiently depended on, they would frequently desert the enemy to obtain their liberty, and would carry off their waggon-horse with them (Pete Maslowski 2-6). During this time it is obvious that Washington feels that slaves are not worthy to serve in his Army. Was his turning point during the colonial period a real turning point or was it just a brief cover? At the end of the war Washington did make a small attempt to send back slaves who were run away's and enlisted in the Army. Washington also objected to British plans to take slaves with them who had served in the British army, Washington told them that the articles of peace prohibited them from taking slaves back with them to Britain.

In a letter to Bryan Fairfax and one to George William Fairfax, his father figure after his oldest brothers death, he describes the colony as being enslaved by the British and compares Black slavery to that of British colonist. In another letter he suggest that if they do not defeat the British that the land would be inhabited by slaves, he is once again referring to the British colonies. This is a turning point for George Washington. He is starting to see the injustices of slavery because of his and the other colonists situation with the British Government.

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Approximate Word count = 3109
Approximate Pages = 12 (250 words per page double spaced)