African American Slavery Essay

The period between the 17th and 18th century is most memorable for the abolition of the Civil War. At this time, most African Americans were able to access the American society in many ways. They were able to acquire property after freedom was granted to them constitutionally. However, some parts of the south still exercised slavery which was legal. Most of the free African-Americans moved to the North where the prevalence of slavery was less. The African Americans who were freed contributed significantly to the national building in terms of infrastructural repair and construction of roads, cities and, canals.
About a third of the slaves originated from the Yoruba and Ashanti communities while about fewer communities like Kanem and Bornu
The Caribbean and South Atlantic economies were overly reliant on agriculture and the European industries demanded more raw materials. As such, there was a massive deficit of human resources. The slaves provided free labor for a long time and were a reliable choice.
The slave trade had most of the enslaved Africans transported to the New World through the Atlantic Ocean. West African slave traders sold slaves to European slave dealers who shipped slaves to the New World. The pioneers of the trade were the Portuguese in the 16th century and were the highest buyers in terms of volume followed by the Brits, French, and Dutch.
In essence, slave life varied differently depending on the supervisor, occupation, and slave codes. The slaves who worked under white supervisors endured the brutality of flogging, dog bites, and even death. On the other hand, some Africans were promoted to positions of house attendants, prefects, or drivers making their harsh experiences less terrorizing. On the other hand, the slave codes differed depending on jurisdiction. Women became cooks or house attendants, but some of the slave masters made them sex slaves as well. The men had to endure harsh labor and severe punishment at the hands of white