The Middle Passage and the Rise of Slavery in the Colonies

THE SOUTH

Do NowIn a minute, I will ask you to complete a task.

Do so quickly and quietly.FOCUS!!!!!!!!

After the task is complete, you will return to your seats and answer the following questions:1. What sorts of emotions did you feel?2. How would you describe your physical state?3. If you were forced to stay like this for a longer

period of time, how would you react?How long would be too long?

Economics vs. HumanityWhy did slavery begin?

Economic needPlantation wealthUnderstanding of Africans(?)Free!

The South: Plantation EconomyFertile soil allowed for the flourishing

growth of cash crops such as tobacco, rice, and indigo.

Instead of towns and cities, the South was mainly concentrated with plantations.

Planters saw little need for shops, because all of what they produced on their farms could be used to sustain their families.

Indentured ServantsLowest class citizens– white men had no rights as

servantsThose who lived through their harsh years of labor

(many didn’t) saw their lives improve only slightly.Bacon’s Rebellion – What do we remember about indentured

servants’ lives post-servitude?

Between 1/2 and 2/3 of all of the white male population were indentured servantsNumbers declinedReports of hardship reached Europe

Depleted labor force + Growing agricultural economy = ??????

Slavery in the New WorldEnslaving NA’s and indentured servants

was failing – Colonists looked towards AfricansNatives were:

Reluctant to learn English labor techniquesCould easily escape

ECONOMICS:Slaves cost more than servants, but a slave

worked for life.Much larger return for the “investment”

Slavery in the New WorldMost white colonists saw dark skin as a sign of

inferiority.

During the late 1600s, Africans were being used as slaves throughout the English West Indies colonies (Barbados, Jamaica)Imported to work on large, prosperous sugar

plantations

Good deal?Free labor, not humansPROPERTY

The Triangle TradeAfricans had become part of the

transatlantic trading network, the “Triangular Trade”

Rum and other goods went from New England to Africa, received slaves in return

Transported slaves to the West Indies and received sugar in return

Shipped sugar to New England to turn into rum

Where did we buy slaves?Even after Europeans began transporting

black slaves to America, most trade was just that: "trade"

In most instances, the Europeans did not need to use any force to get those slaves. The slaves were sold more or less legally by

their black “neighbors”.About 12,000,000 Africans were sold by

Africans to Europeans before 1776.

How did they get here?The Middle Passage

Considered the “middle leg” of the transatlantic trade route.

Horrors:Branded with hot irons for identificationPACKED into dark holds of shipsDiseaseThrown overboard aliveLack of food/waterBlood, sweat, vomit, urine, feces

20% of Africans perished on the journey.

This is a BUSINESS!!! Needs to be run as efficiently as possible.

StatisticsBy 1690 13,000 slaves in the Southern

coloniesBy 1750 200,000 slaves in the Southern

colonies

Slavery turned into an institution that would use cruelty to keep the Africans from rising against their owners.

80-90% worked in fields10-20% worked in the house or as artisans

OLAUDAH EQUIANO

Make a list of all horrible conditions found in the brief primary document.

Share with the group nearest to you.

ALEXANDER FALCONBRIDGE

Homework

SIGNED permission slip: AMISTAD

oVERY IMPORTANT!!!!