Chapter 4

Slavery and Empire 1441-1770

The development of the slavery systemThe history of the slave trade and the Middle

PassageCommunity development among Africans

Americans in the 18th centuryThe connections between the institution of

slavery & the imperial system of the 18th century

The early history of racism in America

Slavery & Empire

The Beginnings of African SlaverySugar & Slavery-Spain and

Portugal used African slaves to work their sugar plantations. Sugar and slaves were the centerpiece of the European colonial system.

West Africans-Hundreds of

different peoples lived on the coast of West Africa

They were sophisticated farmers

Local communities were organized by kinship

Movement of Africans across the Atlantic was the largest forced migration in world history.

Africans outnumbered Europeans immigrants 6 to 1before the 19th century.

Started 15th century and ended around 180712 million Africans transported to AmericaPeak period- 1701- 1810Twice as many men as women were enslavedAges 15 to 30

The African Slave Trade

The Middle PassageThe 2nd leg of the

Triangular Trade….from Africa to America. 1 in 6 Africans died during the passage across the Atlantic.

Top Deck

The Middle Passage Ship Blueprint

Society with SlavesChesapeake- slavery

was one of one form of labor

Chesapeake after 1675- slavery was the dominant form of labor

The Development of North American Slave Societies

Slave Society

North American Slave SocietiesThe tobacco

colonies- In the Chesapeake region (18th century), tobacco was the single most important crop. The increase in tobacco demand corresponded with the increased demand for more slaves.

The lower south- generally states were slaves states from their beginnings.

African to African AmericanFamilies- the most

important institution for the development of the African American community and culture.

Kinship was formed by slaves living and working together…..fictive kinship.

Culture- 18th century important to development due to high birthrate of country born African Americans.

Religion- The Great Awakening

Music and danceLanguage- Gullah

and Geechee

Acculturation worked both ways. Many English in the colonies were being Africanized as well.

Africanization of the south

Africanization of the SouthFoodReligious leadershipMedical magicWoodcarving,

metalworksChild rearing

Violence & ResistanceResistance to slaveryMalingeredMistreated tools and

animalsDestroyed propertyRan away in

maroonsEstablished fugitive

communities & networks

Revolted- NY 1741

Contributed to the economic development in 3 ways:

Profits from slavery generated a source of capital investments…banks, insurance companies, canals, harbors.

Supplied the raw cotton needed for the Industrial Revolution…led to the formation of many jobs

Created a huge market for exports.

Slavery & Empire

Definition- An economic system in which the government intervenes in the economy for the purpose of increasing national wealth.

Political control of the economy by the mother country.

The Politics of Mercantilism

The Politics of MercantilismViews the economy as a

“zero-sum game” where total economic gains were at least equal to total losses.

The goal was to acquire & hoard the fixed amount of wealth in the world.

The nation with the most wealth, would be the most powerful.

Navigation ActsLaws that defined the

colonies as supplier of raw materials and market for English goods.

Other nations were forbidden to trade in the colonies and goods could be shipped in English ships only

Goods that could only be shipped to England: sugar, molasses, rum, tobacco, rice, indigo, furs, skins, tar, turpentine. These were often called enumerated commodities.

British Colonial Regulation

Enumerated Commodities

Salutary NeglectThe idea that any laws or regulations that was contrary to good business were ignored or not enforced. Both the colonies and Britain made huge profits.

British Colonial Regulation

The colonial society benefitted planters, merchants and white colonists.

Northern port cities were had a tight commercial relationship with the South. The North provided shipping, banking and insurance services. The institution of slavery contributed to the growth of the North.

The Colonial Economy

The Colonial EconomyColonial exports:Chesapeake

colonies: tobaccoSouth Carolina: rice

and indigoMiddle Colonies:

wheat

In what ways did colonial policies encourage the growth of slavery?

Slavery & Freedom

Slavery & Freedom Southern Social

Structure: Small elite of wealthy planters.

½ of all white adult makes were small planters & farmers.

A substantial portion of colonists owned no land or slaves.

Upper class- slave-owning eliteHad large

plantations with over 100 slaves.

Influenced the politics, economy and social rules of the South.

Had a very distant relationship with slaves.

Slavery & FreedomMiddle class land owners

Whites used legalities to create distinctions between them and slaves:

1670- Free Africans couldn’t own Christian slaves

1680- Slaves couldn’t a white person1691- Slaves & whites couldn’t have

interracial sexual relationships

White Skin Privilege