Blood Money Slavery, Indentured Servants, and the Triangular Trade

Blood MoneySlavery, Indentured Servants, and the Triangular Trade What caused the Southern Colonies to favor slavery over indentured servants? What allowed Africans to become slaves rather than indentured servants? Is the use of power similar or different in the lives of slaves and indentured servants?

England attempts to colonize at Roanoke • In 1588, Queen Elizabeth I gave Sir Walter Raleigh permission to settle off the coast the land he named Virginia, after his queen. • There were 2 attempts, both unsuccessful. • The first was all men. They returned home in less than a year.

Roanoke • The second attempt included women and children. • After they settled, England and Spain were involved in war so it was 2 years before contact was made • When the English returned to Roanoke the settlers were missing. • The only clue was the word “Croatan” carved in a tree. • Croatan was a nearby island inhabited by Indians

England tries again at the colony called Jamestown • The Susan Constant, Discovery and Godspeed brought about 150 employees up the James River. • They settled up the river, in a swampy marsh. • They called the settlement Jamestown, Virginia.

Problems at Jamestown • It became clear that no one would find gold like the Spanish conquistadors. • Most of the employees were ‘gentlemen’, not used to working with their hands. • There were few farmers or men who could build. • No one was used to working more than 4-5 hrs. a day.

Problems at Jamestown • Men were suffering from dysentery from drinking the swamp water. • They had not planted so they were starving. • But they also did not work.

Jamestown becomes a Colony Built on Smoke • Tobacco is a very labor-intensive crop. • Workers were needed, so many people became indentured servants. • Soon, the Virginia Company was shipping tons of tobacco for profit • Jamestown becomes the first permanent colony for England in America.

How did Jamestown survive? • A man named John Smith took over Jamestown, with only 38 men alive. • He traded with Powhatan for food and began work programs • If you didn’t work, you didn’t eat.

Indentured Servants • Both white and black indentured servants lived, worked, & had families together. • 100,000 out of 130,000 people in Virginia were indentured servants

Indentured Servants • Contracted workers (4 -7 years) purchased by rich aristocrats who agreed to pay off their debt. • Master fed, clothed, & housed the servant. • Servant received money, tools, & rights to a few acres of land at the end of their contract.

Indentured Servants • Problems - Leave after a few years, not used to heavy farming or hot weather. • England’s economy improves in the late half of the 17th century. Fewer indentured servants for hire.

Rise of Slavery • Strong, inexpensive, no government protection, black skin keeps them from blending in with the rest of the crowd, permanent workers. • Black skin became synonymous with being a slave.

Carolina Slave Codes • Carolina authorities developed laws to keep the African American population under control. Whipping, branding, or killing a slave were legal under many circumstances. Freedom of movement, to assemble at a funeral, to earn money, even to learn to read and write, became outlawed.

Triangular Trade Route Triangular Trade Route - fueled the growth of slavery in the Americas. • Slave traders brought Africans to the Americas • Rum and sugar cane from the Americas went to Europe • Sales of these products provided money to European slave traders to capture and transport more Africans to the Americas.

Triangular Trade Route

The Middle Passage • Slaves were chained together on shelves of about foot and a half in width • Slaves were allowed to exercise and eat on the top deck once or twice a day • Ships carried 300 slaves with a crew of 30 men • 10% of the “cargo” died on the trip • 2-3 million Africans died during the 400 year slaver trade period

Blood Money Slavery, Indentured Servants, and the Triangular Trade