An Unthinking Decision: Slavery in the English Colonies

A detailed Summary of An Unthinking Decision: Slavery in the English Colonies

Slavery in America was not a carefully plotted scheme by the English colonists. Rather, it was gradually introduced in the colonies over time as labor resources dried up. Wealthy people didn't get rich on their own. They were dependant upon the labor of others to acquire their riches.

In the early 17th century labor came in the form of indentured servitude. This made travel to America possible for poor people from England. Their journey to the colonies would be paid for by the master who, in return, would get several years of service from the servant. The terms of service lasted up to seven years. However, many indentured servants didn't make it to the end of their term.

According to English law, servants were protected from cruel and unjust treatment. England had no way of enforcing the laws across the ocean; therefore it was controlled by those who were to benefit from the labor. This made for harsh conditions, such as long working days and severe beatings. (Making a Nation) An indentured servant, Richard Frethorne, from England wrote home to his parents saying, "[We] drink water which is but Weak, and I have nothing to Comfort me, nor there is nothing to be gotten here but sickness, and death..." (Major Problems

The first incident of slavery in America appears to have been purely accidental. In 1619, a Dutch ship sailed off course and sold its boatload of twenty African slaves to Virginia colonists. This may have been the event which got the ball rolling for slavery in the colonies. Although it appears that some blacks on the ship were free, there are records of an African woman being sold along with all the children she may bear in the future. It also seems that, in its beginnings, African slavery was similar to white indentured servitude. Blacks and whites worked side by side and even ran away together. (Lecture 9/5)

Slavery was never in the master plan for the colonies, even though it eventually became central to the southern economy and was a strong presence in the north. The rest of the world was involved in the lucrative business of slave trade well before the English colonies joined. Even at its height, slave trade in America accounted for a small percentage of the world trade. When slaves became readily available to colonists, and indentured servitude was gradually fading due to longer life expectancy, the slave market was the next logical step from the economic stand point in the colonies.

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Approximate Word count = 819
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History

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