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Slavery in the Americas: A Historical Overview

Explore the demographics, economics, and legal aspects of slavery in the Americas from 1500-1870. Learn about the Triangle Trade, slave populations in different regions, conditions, and laws governing slavery. Gain insights into the impact of slavery on populations, economies, and societal attitudes.

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Slavery in the Americas: A Historical Overview

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  1. Slavery: Demographics, Economics and the Constitution

  2. Terms • Chattel • Antebellum • Manumission • Abolitionism • Sectionalism • The “peculiar institution”

  3. ‘Triangle Trade’ -Trade route linking Europe, Africa and the Americas -Slaves one of ‘products’ exchanged

  4. Destination of Slaves1500-1870 - Caribbean 4 million - Brazil 3.6 million - Spanish South America 545,000 • United States 480,000 (5%) • Mexico 200,000

  5. Slave Populations • Conditions generally better in N. America • Life expectancy for slaves in Brazil 23 years • In U.S., 35 years (1850 - for whites, 39 years) • Led to greater natural population growth in U.S. • By 1825, 36% of slaves in Americas were in U.S. • Slave trade continues to U.S. until 1808, to other parts of Americas (illegally) to 1860s

  6. Slavery in the United States • 1776, approximately 10% of slaves in North • New York 20,000, New Jersey 10,000 • Why fewer slaves in North than South? -Economics (agriculture) -Attitudes (though not unanimous) -1646, Puritan leaders in New England termed ‘man-stealing’ a sin -New York Herald (1835) “[S]lavery in the South is no evil … it is a positive good.”

  7. Southern Incentive: King Cotton • 1600s-late 1700s, tobacco was incentive for slave holding • Cotton gin brings new incentive after 1793 • Cleaned debris out of cotton more efficiently • Cotton production up 800% in one decade • Slaves used to plant and pick cotton • Cotton eventually 60% of U.S. exports • South accounted for 88% of World’s supply

  8. Slavery in the South • By 1860, 4 million slaves in South • 1/3rd of total population of South (12 million) • Highest in S. Carolina, Mississippi (55-57%), Louisiana, Alabama, Florida Georgia (43-47%) • Most white Southerners (75%) didn’t own slaves • Less than 1% owned more than 100 slaves

  9. Slavery and the law • U.S. Constitution: • For purposes of rep, slaves counted for 3/5th of a person (Article I, Section 2) • Importation could not be banned until 1808 (AI,S9) • Fugitive Slaves (A4, S2) • Laws in the South: • “the power of the master must be absolute, to render the submission of the slave perfect.” • N.C. Chief Justice Thomas Ruffin, Stave v. Mann (1829)

  10. Slave Ship Brookes Slave Ship ‘Brookes’

  11. Olaudah Equiano 1745-1797 • Wrote autobiography in 1793 • British end slave trade in 1807 • Abolish slavery in 1833

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