Why Is Slavery Important To America

Slavery was very important to America and it even led to the civil war. If there was no slavery, the America would not be as rich as it was. The slavery in America started during 1619, in Jamestown, Virginia and lasted until 1865. In the beginning, slaves were exchanged by the Dutch for food. Despite the slow growing of slavery at first, by 1680, slaves soon became important to the economy of Virginia. There were around 11,863,000 Africans were imported to America, but 10 to 20 percent of the number died on the way. In North America, they helped with the productions of such profit crops, for example, tobacco. Slavery then was legalized in Virginia and Maryland because the planting of tobacco was so successful; and it became the foundation of the Southern agrarian economy.
On about half of the slave population were Native American. In 1730, 25 percent of the slaves in Carolina were Cherokee, Creek or other Native American. Even though the number was small, but the whites were also enslaved. In short, they believed that most blacks were slaves and no slaves were white. The states started to pass out laws, known as slave codes; and each State had its own slave code and body of court decision. It was used to limit the freedom of slaves and to protect the institution of slaves. It even stated that the newborn child’s freedom would depend on the mother’s status. Furthermore, slaves were treated as property. As the white was afraid of the black rebellion, whenever the slaves committed crime they would be punished cruelly, such as burned alive or