Effects Of Slavery On African Americans
THE EXPERIENCE OF THE BLACKS IN AMERICA
One of the most important results of the colonization of the New World was the use of slave-trade or labor. African slaves were imported first into the West Indies to carry out the severe labor at which Indians had failed. ¬1 The West Indian planters, as a result, turned more and more to the use of Negro slaves, and thus in the middle of the seventeenth century the importation of Negroes into the Caribbean islands began in earnest. 2
There were few evidences of humanitarianism on the plantations of the West Indies. Slavery was essentially, almost exclusively, an economic institution. Slaves were used for the sole purpose of producing sugar and other staple crops. If the importation of more slaves …show more content…
5 Thus did "slavery" and involuntary servitude, as they are referred to in the United States Constitution, come to the American South. 6 This indicates that the introduction of slavery into the American South had been casual. Whether they were brought there as slaves or as temporary bound servants was not clear, i.e., the status of Africans into the British colonies of America for the first few decades was uncertain or poorly …show more content…
With the development of this system in the southern colonies in the latter half of the seventeenth century, the number of Africans imported as agricultural slave laborers increased greatly, i.e., the growing size of the plantations led to a further dehumanization of the slave system. In fact, the plantation system was the most basic unit and the most effective element of the southern economy. Without its existence, the institution of slavery would have most likely died. The southern planters were at the center of the economic and social life of their community and naturally had the feeling that they should dominate the lives of their black property completely. 12 Nevertheless, slaves may also be attended by overseers, who were given the job of managing the entire plantation in the absence of the planter. This means that slaves were usually left to the whim of these overseers, who were excessively cruel in their treatment of slaves. 13
Usually two systems of slave labor were followed on the southern plantations. Sometimes slaves were given tasks to perform per day and if they finished these tasks, they were allowed to spend the rest of the day for personal purposes. Except on rice plantations, where slaves were given a specific assignment each day, the gang system was used. This system, for slaveholders, proved to be the most convenient form of labor.
One of the most important results of the colonization of the New World was the use of slave-trade or labor. African slaves were imported first into the West Indies to carry out the severe labor at which Indians had failed. ¬1 The West Indian planters, as a result, turned more and more to the use of Negro slaves, and thus in the middle of the seventeenth century the importation of Negroes into the Caribbean islands began in earnest. 2
There were few evidences of humanitarianism on the plantations of the West Indies. Slavery was essentially, almost exclusively, an economic institution. Slaves were used for the sole purpose of producing sugar and other staple crops. If the importation of more slaves …show more content…
5 Thus did "slavery" and involuntary servitude, as they are referred to in the United States Constitution, come to the American South. 6 This indicates that the introduction of slavery into the American South had been casual. Whether they were brought there as slaves or as temporary bound servants was not clear, i.e., the status of Africans into the British colonies of America for the first few decades was uncertain or poorly …show more content…
With the development of this system in the southern colonies in the latter half of the seventeenth century, the number of Africans imported as agricultural slave laborers increased greatly, i.e., the growing size of the plantations led to a further dehumanization of the slave system. In fact, the plantation system was the most basic unit and the most effective element of the southern economy. Without its existence, the institution of slavery would have most likely died. The southern planters were at the center of the economic and social life of their community and naturally had the feeling that they should dominate the lives of their black property completely. 12 Nevertheless, slaves may also be attended by overseers, who were given the job of managing the entire plantation in the absence of the planter. This means that slaves were usually left to the whim of these overseers, who were excessively cruel in their treatment of slaves. 13
Usually two systems of slave labor were followed on the southern plantations. Sometimes slaves were given tasks to perform per day and if they finished these tasks, they were allowed to spend the rest of the day for personal purposes. Except on rice plantations, where slaves were given a specific assignment each day, the gang system was used. This system, for slaveholders, proved to be the most convenient form of labor.