Slavery was established in America between 1700-1770 to meet labor needs as indentured servants became unreliable. Slaves were captured in Africa through bartering, kidnapping, and warfare. They endured a brutal months-long journey to America where they were auctioned off and forced into plantation labor. Though some African traditions were preserved, slave life was unpredictable and families could be separated. The slave population grew rapidly despite rebellions and resistance. By 1750, African Americans comprised 4/5 of the population in some colonies. Slavery resulted in increasing legal restrictions and racism against slaves.

1. Slavery in America (1700-1770)
Rachel
Cooperrider

2. Why Slavery?

To meet labor needs

Indentured servants no longer reliable

The establishment of the Royal African Company in
1672

3. The Capture

Bartering with African kingdom

Kidnapping

Journey back to the coast would take up to two
months

Branding slaves before travel

4. The Journey to America

The “middle passage”

Kept below deck with no fresh air

Threw sick slaves overboard

More than 1 in 4 captives died along the way

5. New Life in America

Auctioned off in public squares

Inspection of teeth, underarms and genitals

Young men and women most valuable

Total journey from Africa to New World plantation
took six months

6. Plantation Life

Preserved several African traditions

Family life unpredictable

Slaves outnumbered colonists in South

7. Life in New Life in Middle
England Colonies

3% of
18% of
population was
population
African

Worked as field Worked on small
hands, on small farms or in the
farms, as house cities
servants, or
skilled artisans

8. Racism

Used as a legal device to maintain control as
population grows

Interracial marriage is forbidden

Marriage and literacy outlawed

Overtime free blacks lost right to employ, hold
office, bear arms, strike

9. Rebellion and Resistance

Limited open resistance

Run away to swamps and mountains

Georgia set up to prevent runaways

Native Americans were given bounties for runaway
slaves

10. Stono Rebellion

Stono, South Carolina in 1739

Group of slaves stole firearms

Plan to go to Spanish Florida

Marched from house to house murdering slave
owners and families

After 30 miles, the group was met by militias

11. In Response to Stono

Negro Act
− S.C. State law forbidding slaves to grow their own
food, assemble in groups, and learn to read

Resulted in more legal action for slaves

12. The Growing Slave Population

2,000 slaves brought over a year

Between 1680 and 1700 the transportation of slaves
on an English ship rose from 5,000 to 20,000

By 1750, African Americans were 4/5ths of the
population

In 1755, 80% of black population was mixed racial

95% of colonial African slaves remained slaves for
life

13. Slaves During the Revolutionary War

Slaves gained freedom by joining state militias

Those who fought on American side were in the line
of fire

Those who fought on British side were doing
manual labor

14. Freed Slaves

By 1770, there was around 40,000 free black slaves
in the colonies
− Included runaways and black immigrants from
West Indies

Had certain social, economic, and legal restrictions

Status was one of uncertainty

15. Results of Slavery

As population grew, so did restrictions

More racism

Caste-like system of segregation

Economic expansion

16. Bibliography

Schultz, Kevin M. "Expansion and Control, 1700-1763." Hist. Boston, MA:
Wadsworth / Cengage Learning, 2012. 59-79. Print.

Slavery In America.
Photograph.Http://www.historyguy.com/civilwar/statistics_slave_population.html.
The History Guy, 2011. Web. 13 Mar. 2012.

Slave Trade to Civil War. Photograph. Http://hunt-barronclasswiki.wikispaces.com/
Slave+Trade+to+Civil+War. Tangient LLC, 2012. Web. 13 Mar. 2012.

Photograph. Picture Gallery. ThinkQuest, Sept. 2011. Web

The Transatlantic Slave Trade. Photograph. Abagond. Wordpress.com, 21 May
2010. Web. 13 Mar. 2012.

Photograph. Remembering Slavery in Verse. BBC News, 23 Mar. 2007. Web. 13
Mar. 2012.

Photograph. POSTS TAGGED WITH SLAVERY. NewsOne, 2012. Web. 13 Mar.
2012.

Photograph. Stono Rebellion. BlackPast.org, 2011. Web. 13 Mar. 2012.