Overview
This lecture examines the origins and evolution of American slavery, from its roots in the Age of Exploration through the colonial era, highlighting the development of race-based slavery, the triangular trade, slave codes, the creation of Black culture, and various forms of resistance.
Slavery in the Age of Exploration
- Chattel slavery has ancient roots in many cultures including Egyptian, Greek, and Roman societies.
- Enslavement shifted from wartime captives to an economic enterprise during the Age of Exploration.
- Early African-European relations included trade, intermarriage, and mutual respect before the slave trade intensified.
- The Portuguese dominated early slave exports from West Africa, cooperating with local traders.
- The Dutch East India Company later became the leading force in the transatlantic slave trade.
- Increased European demand led to kidnapping and raiding of African villages for slaves.
Native American Slavery and Transition to African Slavery
- Native Americans were enslaved, especially by the Spanish and in the southern English colonies.
- Native American slavery was unsustainable: Native peoples could escape easily, assimilate, or their populations dwindled due to disease and migration.
- The failure of Native American slavery coincided with the increased importation of African slaves.
The Triangular Trade and Middle Passage
- The triangular trade connected Europe, Africa, and the Americas: finished goods to Africa, slaves to the Americas, and raw materials to Europe.
- The Middle Passage refers to the brutal voyage of enslaved Africans to the Americas, with high mortality rates.
- Most enslaved people were sent to Brazil and the Caribbean; only 5-7% went to North America.
- Conditions on slave ships were horrific, leading to disease, deaths, and resistance, including mutinies and suicides.
Growth of Race-Based Slavery in the Colonies
- Early African arrivals were sometimes treated as indentured servants, able to gain freedom and property.
- Over time, laws differentiated Africans from whites, establishing lifelong slavery and inheriting status from the mother.
- Economic incentives, land pressures, and perceptions of difference contributed to the preference for race-based slavery.
- Slavery became economically attractive due to lifetime servitude and the self-sustaining system of hereditary slavery.
Slave Codes and Legal Evolution
- Early laws gradually restricted the rights of Black people and codified racial slavery.
- Key laws included inheriting status from the mother and denying rights to trial, property, and interracial marriage.
- By 1705, all Black or mixed-race individuals were legally considered property.
Creation of African American Culture
- Enslaved Africans blended African traditions with European influences, developing unique cultures in religion (e.g., voodoo), medicine, food, and music.
- Language incorporated African words into English, and music styles influenced American genres like blues and jazz.
- Notable figures like Phyllis Wheatley challenged racist assumptions by demonstrating intellectual and artistic achievement.
Resistance and Rebellion
- Enslaved people resisted through sabotage, slow work, feigning illness, and preserving culture.
- Rebellions, like the Stono Rebellion, aimed at freedom but often resulted in harsher slave codes and punishments.
- Slave rebellions were rare but had significant impacts on colonial attitudes and laws.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Chattel slavery — Treating enslaved people as private property, to be bought, sold, and inherited.
- Triangular trade — System of trade linking Europe, Africa, and the Americas, central to the slave trade.
- Middle Passage — The transatlantic journey of enslaved Africans to the Americas with extremely harsh conditions.
- Slave codes — Laws that defined the status, rights, and restrictions of enslaved people.
- Indentured servant — A person contracted to work for a set term in exchange for passage to the colonies.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Read the assigned excerpt from Olaudah Equiano’s narrative for the discussion board.
- Read a poem by Phyllis Wheatley for the discussion board.
- Review slave codes and their evolution in preparation for the next class.