Where When and How?
In the early 17th century, European settlers from North America were starting to use African Slaves as a cheaper way of labor. In 1619, a Dutch ship brought twenty Africans to the shore of Jamestown, Virginia; once they arrived, slavery spread throughout all thirteen colonies. Historians guessed that 6 to 7 million Africans were imported to America. This left Africa without some of it's healthiest and and skillful men and women. Because they were skillful and hardworking, they became slaves and aided in growing crops such as tobacco. http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/slavery http://www.ushistory.org/us/27b.asp
In the early 17th century, European settlers from North America were starting to use African Slaves as a cheaper way of labor. In 1619, a Dutch ship brought twenty Africans to the shore of Jamestown, Virginia; once they arrived, slavery spread throughout all thirteen colonies. Historians guessed that 6 to 7 million Africans were imported to America. This left Africa without some of it's healthiest and and skillful men and women. Because they were skillful and hardworking, they became slaves and aided in growing crops such as tobacco. http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/slavery http://www.ushistory.org/us/27b.asp
Slavery in America VS. Slavery in Africa
Slaves that were in Africa were not treated as badly as the slaves in America. The slaves in Africa still had certain things they couldn't do, but they were treated like everybody else. They were able to go cut wood, get fresh water, and eat with everybody else. Although they did not have a lot of freedom, life was still better for them than for slaves in America. They were able to do things with the other people, but they were not allowed to leave the home of their owner or go home to their parents. If the slaves tried to escape, then they would either be sold or even killed. Also, In Africa they didn't have slaves as a form of property, they had them to either pay off a debt or crime. All this meant was that the slave just lost protection from its family, but it might/could become part of his/her master's family and become free. http://discoveringbristol.org.uk/slavery/people-involved/enslaved-people/enslaved-africans/africa-slavery/
Slavery in America was different. In America, you weren't just a slave so the people could pay off debt, you were a slave for life and that included your children and grandchildren would be slaves for their entire lives as well. The slaves who worked outside would work from sun-up to sun-down, six days a week. They would not get fed very well either; they would get food that animals could barely eat. They would live in little shacks with dirt floors and no furniture. The people who were in charge of the slaves had people called overseers who were paid by whoever could get the most work out of the slaves. Because of the overseers treatment of the slaves, they were forced to work. Though both groups were slaves, the slaves in America were treated worse. http://www.ushistory.org/us/27b.asp
Why Apart of the South?
When slavery first came to America and started to spread through the colonies, it went more toward the south. This reason was because of all of the plantations that included cotton, tobacco, and other crops grew. Because of all of the plantations, more work was created that the slaves had to do, and more money was made. Another reason was because it wasn't as profitable in the North. Since very few people owned slaves in the North, the wanting of slaves were very low. Not many white people in the South even owned slaves. Only one-fourth of white people either owned slaves or were apart of a family of slaves. Over half of the slaves were owned by planters. http://www.worldbook.com/world-book-explains/item/1176-why-were-there-slaves-in-the-south-and-not-in-the-north
Indentured Servitude Into Slavery
While the slaves existed in the English colonies in the 1600's, indentured slaves was the method of many planters before the 1680's. This system provided motivation for both the slaves and the master to increase their working population. What is an indentured servitude? An indentured servitude is a system that was beneficial for both the master and the slave. For the master, he would get 50 acres of land for every laborer they sent across the Atlantic as well as a getting a slave to work for them. For the slaves, they would have their journey be paid in full by the master as well as they would have a contract that they would sign that said they would work for typically five years and once that was up they got freedom dues. The freedom dues might include land, food, money, guns, clothes, etc. Only about 40%, though, of these indentured slaves completed their terms. http://www.ushistory.org/us/5b.asp
Slaves that were in Africa were not treated as badly as the slaves in America. The slaves in Africa still had certain things they couldn't do, but they were treated like everybody else. They were able to go cut wood, get fresh water, and eat with everybody else. Although they did not have a lot of freedom, life was still better for them than for slaves in America. They were able to do things with the other people, but they were not allowed to leave the home of their owner or go home to their parents. If the slaves tried to escape, then they would either be sold or even killed. Also, In Africa they didn't have slaves as a form of property, they had them to either pay off a debt or crime. All this meant was that the slave just lost protection from its family, but it might/could become part of his/her master's family and become free. http://discoveringbristol.org.uk/slavery/people-involved/enslaved-people/enslaved-africans/africa-slavery/
Slavery in America was different. In America, you weren't just a slave so the people could pay off debt, you were a slave for life and that included your children and grandchildren would be slaves for their entire lives as well. The slaves who worked outside would work from sun-up to sun-down, six days a week. They would not get fed very well either; they would get food that animals could barely eat. They would live in little shacks with dirt floors and no furniture. The people who were in charge of the slaves had people called overseers who were paid by whoever could get the most work out of the slaves. Because of the overseers treatment of the slaves, they were forced to work. Though both groups were slaves, the slaves in America were treated worse. http://www.ushistory.org/us/27b.asp
Why Apart of the South?
When slavery first came to America and started to spread through the colonies, it went more toward the south. This reason was because of all of the plantations that included cotton, tobacco, and other crops grew. Because of all of the plantations, more work was created that the slaves had to do, and more money was made. Another reason was because it wasn't as profitable in the North. Since very few people owned slaves in the North, the wanting of slaves were very low. Not many white people in the South even owned slaves. Only one-fourth of white people either owned slaves or were apart of a family of slaves. Over half of the slaves were owned by planters. http://www.worldbook.com/world-book-explains/item/1176-why-were-there-slaves-in-the-south-and-not-in-the-north
Indentured Servitude Into Slavery
While the slaves existed in the English colonies in the 1600's, indentured slaves was the method of many planters before the 1680's. This system provided motivation for both the slaves and the master to increase their working population. What is an indentured servitude? An indentured servitude is a system that was beneficial for both the master and the slave. For the master, he would get 50 acres of land for every laborer they sent across the Atlantic as well as a getting a slave to work for them. For the slaves, they would have their journey be paid in full by the master as well as they would have a contract that they would sign that said they would work for typically five years and once that was up they got freedom dues. The freedom dues might include land, food, money, guns, clothes, etc. Only about 40%, though, of these indentured slaves completed their terms. http://www.ushistory.org/us/5b.asp
Racial Discrimination
There are two main assumption of where racism comes from. One is that it is human-nature and that we always have and always will have it. The second is that it comes from bad ideas people have and if we were to change those ideas, we could get ride of it. These two assumptions, though, are wrong. Racism originated from the slave trade. The people who were involved with the slave trade, more white then native people, thought of the slave trade as being "natural" but because of racism. To them, the african american were not human beings, and that they were born to be slaves. Racism wasn't apart of the early slave trade; however it was created later on. In the beginning there were also white indentured servants who were treated like slaves; they were sold, bought, beaten, and even killed. This proves that there wasn't racism in the beginning, but it was created later on. Over time, they racism gradually became embedded into the society. But the main reason for racism was not economical, but political. Over time, the institution of racism became firmly established both as a mean of slavery and dividing poor people against one another. The Civil War might have smashed the slave system, but it didn't stop racism. This had to do with capitalism. Capitalism created racism and it can't function without it.The only way to end racism once and for all, is to win a social society. http://socialistworker.org/2002-2/431/431_08_Racism.shtml
There are two main assumption of where racism comes from. One is that it is human-nature and that we always have and always will have it. The second is that it comes from bad ideas people have and if we were to change those ideas, we could get ride of it. These two assumptions, though, are wrong. Racism originated from the slave trade. The people who were involved with the slave trade, more white then native people, thought of the slave trade as being "natural" but because of racism. To them, the african american were not human beings, and that they were born to be slaves. Racism wasn't apart of the early slave trade; however it was created later on. In the beginning there were also white indentured servants who were treated like slaves; they were sold, bought, beaten, and even killed. This proves that there wasn't racism in the beginning, but it was created later on. Over time, they racism gradually became embedded into the society. But the main reason for racism was not economical, but political. Over time, the institution of racism became firmly established both as a mean of slavery and dividing poor people against one another. The Civil War might have smashed the slave system, but it didn't stop racism. This had to do with capitalism. Capitalism created racism and it can't function without it.The only way to end racism once and for all, is to win a social society. http://socialistworker.org/2002-2/431/431_08_Racism.shtml