The Role Of Slavery In 18th Century America

During the late 18th century, slavery was major part of America’s way of life. Its growth was assisted by certain factors such as: geography, economy, trade, and social. It was widely accepted by white American citizens until it was challenged during the Revolution Era by ideals, religion, and the decline of profit in tobacco. The decline was more noticeable north of Delaware due to laws abolishing slavery, though this institution still persisted for a while in the 19th century. Geography was what made the slave trade possible. American plantation owners wanted workers who could do labor in the hot weather and accept less pay. European wanted sugar, coffee, tobacco, and rum. African rulers wanted weapons and jewelry from Europe. To solve this issue, traders simply with each other in these three regions throughout the Atlantic, and this had started the now known “triangle trade” of slavery.
Later on, the owners received convicts from Europe, but these workers were not cost-effective since their contracts had a limit of at certain number of years and they could own land after their contracts were over. Due to this, plantations sought for cheap laborers from Africa. Many Europeans and their colonial descendents loathed Africans and seemed justified with their inhuman treatment towards them due to this. Plantation owners at first prevented their slaves from marrying one another or starting families together, but they considered it to be cost-wise to let their slaves have families, so that they would not have to buy more slaves from overseas. Slave families, however, generally suffered from their masters' splitting families apart by selling a family