Slavery+in+the+American+Colonies

 Slavery has been around for a long time. Slavery in the United States began in the early 17th century. In 1750 slavery became legal in all thirteen colonies. Slavery expanded to meet the growing needs and profitability  of the plantation system in the American Colonies. "The first known slave for life in the American Colonies was a black man named John Punch," according to the book, __The Politics of Slave Trade__, by Linda Jacobs Altman. Slavery has been around for a long time and is still talked about today.
 * __SLAVERY IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES__**

__**Trans Atlantic Slave Trade**__

Slaves were brought to American on a route called the Trans- Atlantic Slave Trade Route. Also known as the Triangular Trade Route or the Midwest Passage. Conditions on these trips to America were very cruel and harsh. Men were often chained in pairs, shackled wrist to wrist or ankle to ankle. People were crowded together usually forced to lie on their backs with their heads between the legs of others. This meant they often had to lie in each other's urine, and, in some cases even blood. In such cramped quarters, diseases such as smallpox and yellow fever spread very fast. The sick and diseased were sometimes thrown overboard to prevent widespread epidemics. Since a small crew had to control so many; as a result, cruel measures such as iron muzzles and whippings were used to control slaves. The slave trade process worked in a triangular way. First British ships would travel to Africa to buy slaves. The British then paid for the slaves using European cloth, pieces of brass, and cowry shells. The slaves were then shipped to the Caribbean and sold for sugar which was sent back to England. That is one of the triangles made. There is another triangle that was made between the Caribbean, America, and Africa. Americans would import molasses (which was produced by slaves) from the West Indies. The molasses was then turned into rum. This rum was then shipped to Africa. In Africa, the people would use the rum to purchase slaves to bring back to the Caribbean sugar islands. Ottobah Cuugoano, an enslaved African, wrote an account of the African slave trade:

//"... I was soon conducted to a prison, for three days, where I heard the groans and cries of many,a nd saw some of my fellow-captives. But when the vessel arrived to conduct is away to the ship, it was a most horrible scene; there was nothing to be heard but the rattling of chains, smacking of whips, and the groans and cries of our fellow-men. Some would not stir from the ground, when they were lashed and beat in the most horrible manner."//

Once slaves arrived in America they would be sold to slave owners. In the book __Chains__ Isabel and Ruth are shipped to New York City where then they are bought by Mr. and Mrs. Lockton. The triangular slave trade will remain as an important issue as time goes on.

[|Triangular Trade] This website is super cool! It is a animated map of the Triangular Slave trade! You have to check it out!

[|Slave Trade Video] A really cool video about slave trade! The photos in it are really good.





__**Difference between British and Patriot slave treatment**__ Both the British( also known as "loyalists") and Patriot slave owners shared similar and different ways of treating slaves. But before we get into detail you should know what a Patriot is and what a Loyalist is. A patriot is an American colonist that was against the British in the American Revolution. A loyalist is someone who was with the British, and was loyal to King George. The British actively recruited slaves belonging to Patriot masters and, consequently, more blacks fought for the British Crown. Lord Dunmore (who was the governor of Virginia) said that he would offer freedom to slaves that left their masters, and join the British. Dunmore officially issued this proclamation on November, 1775, and within a month 300 black men had joined the British. His proclamation inspired thousands of runaways to follow behind the British throughout the war. Here is a passage from Lord Dunmore's Proclamation:

//And I hereby further declare all indented servants, Negroes, or others (appertaining to Rebels) free, that are able and willing to bear arms, they joining His Majesty's Troops, as soon as may be, for the more speedily reducing the Colony to a proper sense of their duty, to this Majesty's crown and dignity. -- Lord Dunmore's Proclamation//



Some patriot slave owners were cruel to their slaves and some were nice to them. Some people say that if General Washington were more willing to except slaves to fight in his army; as a result, there wouldn't be so many slaves fighting with the British. Also, slaves were important to the patriots. They helped them out daily to produce crops. Both the Patriots and Loyalists treated their slaves will cruelty, and violence. Owners would threaten slaves, beat them up, or other harsh punishment due to disobedience. Peter Kolchin described his treatment as this:  //“Born in violence, slavery survived by the lash…The routine functioning of southern farms and plantations rested on the authority of the owners and their representatives, supported by the state, to inflict pain of their// __ //human property//__//.”// In the book __Chains__, Isabel's owners are Loyalists. Her owners, the Lockton's, treated her horribly. Especially Mrs. Lockton. She physically beats her slaves if they disobey her( which Isabel does a lot). Mr. Lockton isn't that mean to Isabel, but is still harsh. There is another character in the book who has a Dutch slave. Her name is Lady Seymour, and she treats her slaves so nicely. When Isabel comes over, Lady Seymour treats her to food and is very nice and respectful towards Isabel. Too bad all of the slave owners didn't act that way! As a result, slaves were treated harshly by both Patriots and Loyalists.

[|The Proclamation] Here is a fantastic link by PBS! It is the Earl of Dunmore's Proclamation.

//"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed my their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness..."// That was a section of the Declaration of Independence. During the Revolutionary time period many colonists felt that their rights were being taken away and wanted to become free. So did the slaves. But as you will find out at the end of this paragraph, they weren't. This section of the Declaration of Independence didn't apply to slaves. Slaves were not equal to white men, and they didn't have ANY rights! When the first continental congress assembled, they stated that there would be a temporary boycott on slave trade. Since the beginning of the Revolutionary time period slaves have been involved in the rebellion. Also slaves and free blacks fought at Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775. Even though they fought well, George Washington decided to forbid the use as slaves as soldiers. But as the war went on the Continental Army was in need for more troops. Alexander Hamilton recommended raising battalions of black soldiers. His idea didn't fail! Eventually Washington realized that he had no choice; therefore, the African Americans had to fight. Then on November 15, 1777, the Second Continental Congress met, and created the Articles of Confederation. But this document said NOTHING about slavery! Instead the men decided to bypass slavery. In the book __Chains__ Isabel is a slave during the Revolution. Her owners(the Lockton's) are Loyalists. Isabel overhears British plans, and reports them to the Patriot leaders. As I said at the beginning to the paragraph slaves would not be free after the revolution. Even though the Declaration of Independence says, //"all men are created equa//l," slaves were not treated as equal.
 * __Slavery in the Revolutionary War__**

__**Affects of Slavery**__ The issue about slavery isn't a issue that only lasts a few hundred years. It is still being talked about today. After the American Revolution the creation of the Constitution started. Slavery was a very important topic that was debated. It was decided that the conflict of slavery was not to be brought up again until twenty years. Also the horrible conditions on the ships that traveled on the Trans- Atlantic Slave route, had been exposed. People were starting to learn about the terrors of these voyages. This made quite a few people want to stop slavery. But there were many people who wanted to keep slavery, and slave trade. The Transatlantic Slave Trade lasted for centuries and the impact of this terrible episode in human history still continues today. Another huge issue was that people wanted to move west. Northerners wanted to stop the spread of slavery, while southerners wanted to keep spreading it. All of these issues have molded America and were causes of future slave/slavery problems.

