Origins of American Slavery

From Indentured Servitude to Inherited Permanent Status of Slavery

Origins of Laborers in Colonies • Indentured Servants: •By 1700, planters brought in about 100,000

indentured servants, about 75% of all European immigrants to VA & MA;•

Most indentured servants were young, 15-25, and single;•

Males servants outnumbered female servants;• Indentures were typically 5-7 years in duration;•Trade

in indentured servants peaked about 1620-1680, but lasted until the 1770s.

An indentiture: A Contract • 1627…between Richard Lowther of Broome in the Parish of South

well [i.e., Southill] in the County of Bedford brewer of the one party and Edward Hurd Citizen and Iron monger of London of the other party witnesses that the said Richard Lowther (for the Considerations here in after Mentioned) has hired himself and is become and by theis presents does Covenant and agree and bind himself to be remain and Continue the Covenant servant of him the said Edward Hurd his heirs

• and assigns to be by him or them sent and transported unto the Country and land of Virginia, in the parts beyond the Seas & to be by him or them employed upon his plantation there, for and during the space of Four years Richard Lowther shall and will truly employ and cnd [sic] endeavour himself to the utmost of his power knowledge and skill to do and perform true and faithful service unto the said Edward Hurd his heirs and assigns in for and concerning all such Labor and business as he or they shall think good to use and employ him the said Richard Lowther in, And shall and wilbe tractable and obedient as a good and a faithful servant ought to be in all such things as shalbe Commanded him by the said Edward Hurd his heirs or assigns in Virginia aforesaid or elsewhere during the said term .

What will the servant do?• the said Richard Lowther shall and will truly

employ and cnd [sic] endeavour himself to the utmost of his power knowledge and skill to do and perform true and faithful service unto the said Edward Hurd his heirs and assigns in for and concerning all such Labor and business as he or they shall think good to use and employ him the said Richard Lowther in

• , And shall and wilbe tractable and obedient as a good and a faithful servant ought to be in all such things as shalbe Commanded him by the said Edward Hurd his heirs or assigns in Virginia aforesaid or elsewhere during the said term

What will the servant get? • IN CONSIDERATION whereof the said Edward Hurd for himself

his executors administrators or assigns and for every of them do covenant promise and grant to and with the said Richard Lowther his heirs executors administrators and assigns by theis presents that he the said Edward Hurd his heirs executors administrators and assigns shall and will ( at his and their own charges) not only transport and furnish out the said Richard Lowther to and for Virginia aforesaid and there find provide and allow unto him sufficient meat drink apparel and other necessaries for his livelihood and maintenance during the said term

• But also at the expiration of the said term shall and will grant assign and allot unto him the said Richard Lowther the quantity of Fifty acres of Land in Virginia aforesaid to hold to him his heirs and assigns for ever as in such Cases usual without fraud or Coven In witness whereof the said parties to theis present writings indented Interchangeably have set their hands and seals given the day and year first above written/   ichard Lowther    Sealed and delivered

Early Africans and indentiture

• Most were first indentured servants and got their independence after 5-7 years as whites did.

• In the mid 1600s this began to change as Africans began to be seen as “different” and the “outsider.”

Terrible Transformation: film will show

• Why indentured servants became dangerous to the leadership in the South

• How White southerners tried to handle the issue of “slave escapes”

• Between 1635 and 1705 one law at a time, one person at a time, slavery based on race will upset indentured servitude.

PBS Africans in America

• Your task: • Watch the following film• Note the steps that led the leaders of the

colonies to gradually make slavery based on race a permanent part of our history.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUbKJDrquco