Slavery in Colonial America
Slavery played an important role in the economic growth of a young America. "It grew like a cancer, at first slowly, almost imperceptibly, then inexorably, as colonists eager for material gain imported hundreds of thousands of Africans to toil in their fields (Kolchin, 4)." Although economically motivated, racism soon began to play a role in the colonies in their attempt to acquire a labor force. "Racial distinction, in short, facilitated enslavement (Kolchin, 13)." Rather than forego the economic benefits of slavery, American slaveholders resolved the dilemma by defining blacks not as fellow human beings but more like beasts of burden.The colonists came from a culture in which "the rich and powerful exploited the poor and powerless (Kolchin, 7)." It was this attitude in the beginning that the demand for labor was for the most part color-blind. Throughout the seventeenth century the bulk of the labor force in the colonies was that of indentured servants. They sold themselves for the cost of passage to the colonies in hope for a better life. As long as there was this continuous influx of indentured labor there was no need to go to the expense of paying for the import of Africans. With economic recovery and political stab
servitude and a religious belief that non-Christians were heathens. Once the African slaves transitioned to African-Americans and began to create a culture that took on more of an American flavor it became harder for the colonists to look upon them as "pagans". This planted the seed, which eventually set them "free". Although slavery was legal everywhere the use of slavery varied between the regions. The use of slavery was much smaller in the North than in the South. The lack of significant commercial agriculture In the Northern colonies excluded the demand for a large-scale work force. Slaves were used as house servants or skilled craftsmen and day laborers. Slavery did not serve as the basis for the economy in the North. In contrast "slavery stood at the heart of the economic and social system in the South" ilization in Europe fewer people sold themselves into indentured servitude. At the same time the economy in the colonies was growing. More and more indentured servants were able to eventually gain their freedom and the demand for labor grew. The colonist made an attempt to enslave the Native Americans but found that they were proud and refused to work. The Indian men This set the stage for the importation of Africans. Landowners be
Some common words found in the essay are:
, African African-American, English Africans, Africans Landowners, North South, Africans Africans, North Caribbean, Native Americans, Slavery South, South Kolchin, indentured servants, indentured servitude, labor force, african-american culture, stereotypes africans, slave labor, demand labor, commercial agriculture, kolchin 13, sold themselves,
Approximate Word count = 854
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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