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2.6 Slavery in the British Colonies

7 min readdecember 23, 2022

J

James Glackin

J

James Glackin

The first recorded slave transaction took place in in 1619 when arrived on a . Most of these would become . During the first half of the 17th century, white European served as the majority of laborers in all of the 13 colonies. A small number of were also servants.

🎥Watch: AP US History - The Impact of Slavery on Colonial America

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2Fslaveshipbrooksreduced-1000x1182.jpg?alt=media&token=d9e81ae3-d6d8-4221-9a7f-371315850607

“Stowage of the British slave ship Brookes under the regulated slave trade act of 1788,” 1789, via Wikimedia. Slave ships transported 11-12 million Africans to destinations in North and South America, but it was not until the end of the 18th century that any regulation was introduced. The Brookes print dates to after the Regulated Slave Trade Act of 1788, but still shows enslaved Africans chained in rows using iron leg shackles. The slave ship Brookes was allowed to carry up to 454 slaves, allotting 6 feet (1.8 m) by 1 foot 4 inches (0.41 m) to each man; 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) by 1 foot 4 inches (0.41 m) to each women, and 5 feet (1.5 m) by 1 foot 2 inches (0.36 m) to each child, but one slave trader alleged that before 1788, the ship carried as many as 609 slaves.

By 1700, black would be sent to the Americas against their will. This racial change was the result of in 1676, where many poor white farmers staged a violent uprising against the government and wealthy tobacco planters of . The fear of a large, poor, resentful white population led the wealthy planters to look for a new labor force in Africa.

Black Africans were transported from western Africa in mostly Portuguese and British ships across the Atlantic Ocean as part of the . This gruesome trip took about 6 weeks in which about 20% of the slaves on board would die from disease, starvation, or suicide. Africans were enchained below deck in putrid conditions.  

The majority of black Africans were sent to and the . Many slaves would die in their sugar mills or in the fields of the .

Triangular Trade

The was a system of trade that involved the exchange of goods and people between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. It is named for the triangular shape formed by the routes of trade, which connected the three regions.

The was a key part of the global economy during the era of European colonization and was a major source of wealth and power for European nations. At its core, the involved the exchange of , such as textiles, weapons, and alcohol, for , who were then transported to the Americas and sold to work on plantations and mines. and goods such as sugar, tobacco, and coffee were then sent from the Americas to Europe.

The had a profound impact on the history and development of the Americas, as it played a significant role in the transatlantic slave trade and the growth of slavery in the region. The also had a profound impact on Africa, as it contributed to the destabilization of many African societies and the loss of millions of people to the slave trade.

Slavery in the Northern Colonies

The of New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey had legalized slavery in the 17th and 18th centuries but their smaller farms and limited soil would make the demand for slaves less than the southern colonies. All would free most of their slaves legally by the early 19th century.

New England’s slave population was only about 3% but this number drastically increased to 25% in port cities such as Boston. Philadelphia and New York also had a significant number of slaves. Most northern slaves were domestic servants, dockworkers, sailors, and craft workers. Some would be hired out by their owners and were declared property.

In the decades before the Civil War, many slaves were freed. However, after the 1793 invention of the cotton gin, cotton and other southern products were linked to northern banking and shipping. These important economic sectors of the North had a vested interest in the agricultural production by slaves of the South.

Slavery in the Southern Colonies

The large agricultural plantations of the South and their single cash crop economies led to a high demand for slaves. Tobacco in the Chesapeake and rice and indigo in the South were all labor intensive crops. Cotton would become the major crop in the Deep South only after the invention of Eli Whitney’s cotton gin in 1793.

Tobacco, a crop that exhausted the soil and caused farmers to expand westward for more land, was harvested in , Maryland, and North Carolina. Rice plantations and indigo were harvested in South Carolina and Georgia. Initially, James Oglethorpe and his followers in Georgia banned slavery, but other southerners moved into the “peach state” and brought slaves with them as Georgia legalized slavery in 1750.

Slaves' Response to Slavery

Black slaves did resist the by murdering their owners, destroying machinery and other property, escaping, and committing suicide. Some escapees formed in swamps or in the mountains and would menace plantations for food and other products. Rebellions were not frequent, but they did happen. As part of the Stono Rebellion in South Carolina in 1739, slaves seized arms, burnt houses, and killed 25 whites.

Most of the slave revolts occurred in areas where there were a large number of slaves, such as the American South. More violent revolts happened in Jamaica, Haiti, and the Caribbean because outnumbered whites in many communities. The result of most revolts were the mass executions of black slaves. These types of overt resistance were often met with harsh punishment, but they were also a way for enslaved people to assert their dignity and to resist their oppression.

Slaves also engaged in covert resistance, in which enslaved people used subtle and covert methods to resist their oppression and maintain their dignity and sense of self. This could include acts of sabotage, such as slowing down work or damaging equipment, or using their skills and knowledge to their advantage, such as using medicinal plants to heal themselves and others.

Enslaved people also used their culture and religion as a means of resistance and as a way to maintain their sense of identity and community. They used traditional music, dance, and other cultural practices as a way to express their resistance and to keep their culture alive, and they used religion as a way to find solace and to express their belief in a higher power.

Black slaves who were born in the colonies were more prone to adopt parts of white culture than those who were brought by ship from Africa. Blacks born in the colonies developed an African-American culture that emphasized religion, distinct food, music, dance, and the importance of family. The Baptist Church became a staple of many slave communities as part of the Great Awakening religious revival starting in 1740.

Slave Laws

The Barbados Code was a major law passed in 1661 in Barbados which meant that black slaves were chattel (property) and had no basic rights that they would have been entitled to under normal English common law. This law protected the white slave owners and allowed them to kill slaves without any legal consequences. Men from Barbados would move into the American colonies and bring these codes with them.

Other codes were consistent throughout the American colonies. Slaves could not travel without a written slip from their master. They were forbidden to gather in large numbers, except in the company of whites. These laws also did not allow blacks to marry, read, or serve on juries.

This system of chattel slavery, in which enslaved people were treated as property and had no legal rights, became the dominant labor system in many of the southern colonies in North America. It was based on a strict racial hierarchy that was codified into law and that prohibited interracial relationships and defined the descendants of African American mothers as black and enslaved in perpetuity.

Under this system, enslaved people were owned by their masters and were forced to work long hours on plantations, mines, and other labor-intensive ventures. They had no rights or freedoms, and they were subject to harsh and inhumane treatment, including corporal punishment and sexual abuse.

The system of chattel slavery was deeply entrenched in the southern colonies, and it played a central role in the economy and society of the region. It was supported by a network of laws and institutions that enforced the racial hierarchy and maintained the system of slavery.

Throughout much of the history of slavery in the United States, some people used religion as a defense for the . They argued that slavery was sanctioned by God and that it was a necessary part of society.

One of the most common arguments used to defend slavery was that it was a divinely ordained institution that was intended to bring Christian salvation to the enslaved Africans. This argument was based on the belief that Africans were heathen and that they needed to be brought under the guidance of Christian masters in order to be saved.

Key Terms to Review (36)

African Slaves

: Africans who were captured and sold into slavery during the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. They were forced into labor in plantations and mines across the Americas.

African-American Culture Development by Blacks Born in Colonies

: This refers to the unique culture developed by African-Americans born into slavery in the American colonies. This culture blended elements from various African cultures with new influences from life in America.

Bacon’s Rebellion

: Bacon's Rebellion was an armed rebellion in 1676 by Virginia settlers led by Nathaniel Bacon against the rule of Governor William Berkeley. The colonists were unhappy with how Berkeley was dealing with Native American threats on the frontier.

Barbados Code Law Passed in 1661

: The Barbados Code was a law passed in 1661 that provided the legal basis for slavery in the Caribbean. It defined slaves as property and gave slave owners absolute power over their slaves.

Brazil

: Brazil is the largest country in South America and Latin America region. It was colonized by Portugal during Age of Discovery in 1500s.

Brookes Print

: The Brookes Print is a detailed diagram that was used during the abolitionist movement in the late 18th century to expose the inhumane conditions aboard slave ships. It depicted enslaved Africans packed tightly into the lower decks of a ship named 'Brookes.'

Chattel Slavery System

: Chattel slavery is a form of slavery where people are treated as personal property that can be bought, sold, or traded.

Christian Salvation Argument to Defend Slavery Institution

: This argument claimed that enslaving Africans would save their souls by introducing them to Christianity. It was used as a moral justification for the institution of slavery.

Covert Resistance Methods: Work Slowdowns/Damaging Equipment; Medicinal Plants Use for Healing

: Covert resistance methods refer to the subtle ways enslaved people resisted their masters, such as intentionally working slowly, damaging equipment, or using medicinal plants for healing without their master's knowledge.

Dutch Warship

: A Dutch warship refers to a military ship that was used by the Netherlands, particularly during the 17th and 18th centuries when they were a major naval power. These ships were used for various purposes including trade, exploration, and warfare.

Europe, Africa, and the Americas Exchange Route

: This refers to the routes used during triangular trade where goods, slaves, and raw materials were exchanged between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

European Goods

: These are products that were manufactured in Europe during the colonial period and traded globally. Textiles refer to cloth or woven fabric, weapons include guns and ammunition, while alcohol refers to drinks like rum and brandy.

Great Awakening Religious Revival Starting from 1740

: The Great Awakening was a series of religious revivals among Protestants in the American colonies between 1720-1755, particularly around 1740. It led to the growth of evangelical and revivalist movements.

Indentured Servants

: Indentured servants were men and women who signed a contract (also known as an indenture or covenant) by which they agreed to work for a certain number of years in exchange for transportation to Virginia and once they arrived, food, clothing, and shelter.

Institution of Slavery

: The institution of slavery refers to the social, economic, and political system that supported and promoted the practice of owning individuals as property. This system was prevalent in the United States until it was abolished in 1865.

Iron Leg Shackles

: Iron leg shackles were devices used during slavery times to restrict enslaved people's movements. They were heavy iron rings connected by chains that were locked around a person's ankles.

James Oglethorpe's Followers in Georgia

: These were settlers who followed James Oglethorpe to establish the colony of Georgia as a place for debtors and poor people from England could start anew.

Maroon Groups

: Maroon groups refer to communities of runaway slaves who escaped from plantations and formed independent settlements in remote areas like swamps or mountains.

Middle Passage

: The Middle Passage refers to the part of the trade where Africans, densely packed onto ships, were transported across the Atlantic to the West Indies.

Native Americans

: Native Americans are indigenous peoples who inhabited North America before European exploration and colonization. They include various tribes with diverse cultures spread across different regions.

Northern Colonies

: The Northern Colonies refer to British settlements located in North America's northeastern region. They included New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Plantations and Mines Labor Force

: The group of enslaved Africans who were forced to work in the agricultural plantations and mines in the Americas during the colonial period.

Raw Materials

: Raw materials are basic substances in their natural, unprocessed state that are used in manufacturing or industrial production processes.

Regulated Slave Trade Act of 1788

: The Regulated Slave Trade Act of 1788 (also known as Dolben's Act) was a British law that aimed at improving conditions on slave ships by limiting the number of enslaved Africans that could be transported relative to a ship's size.

Resistance Methods

: Resistance methods refer to various strategies employed by enslaved people to resist their enslavement. These included murdering owners, destroying machinery/property, escaping or committing suicide.

Rice Plantations and Indigo Harvesting in South Carolina and Georgia

: This refers to the large-scale farming operations focused on rice cultivation and indigo production in South Carolina and Georgia during colonial times.

Slave Revolts Areas: American South; Jamaica; Haiti; Caribbean

: Slave revolts areas refer to regions where significant uprisings of enslaved Africans took place during colonial times. These include parts of the American South, Jamaica, Haiti, and other Caribbean islands.

Southern Colonies Demand for Slaves

: This refers to the high demand for enslaved African labor in the southern colonies due to their agricultural economy which relied heavily on labor-intensive crops like tobacco and rice.

Stono Rebellion in South Carolina

: The Stono Rebellion was a slave revolt that occurred in 1739 in the colony of South Carolina. It was the largest slave uprising in the British mainland colonies, with 25 white people and 35 to 50 black people killed.

Stowage of the British Slave Ship Brookes

: The "Stowage of the British Slave Ship Brookes" is an infamous diagram that depicted how slaves were packed onto slave ships during the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Published by abolitionists in England in 1788, it became one of most potent images advocating for an end to slavery.

Sugar Plantations

: Large-scale farms in the New World, particularly in the Caribbean and Brazil, where sugar cane was grown and processed into sugar. These plantations relied heavily on enslaved African labor.

Tobacco Harvesting in Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina

: This refers to the cultivation and harvesting of tobacco as a cash crop by colonists in the states of Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Traditional Music/Dance/Cultural Practices as Resistance Expression

: This refers to the use of cultural elements such as music, dance, and traditional practices by oppressed groups to resist or protest against their oppression.

Triangular Trade

: Triangular trade is a multilateral system of trading in which a country pays for its imports from one country by its exports to another. In context of colonial America this involved raw materials sent from colonies to Europe; manufactured goods from Europe sent to Africa; slaves from Africa sent to Americas.

Virginia

: One of the 13 original colonies, Virginia was established by the London Company in 1607. It played a significant role in the early history of America, including being the location of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement.

West Indies

: The West Indies is a region of islands located between North and South America, surrounded by Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean.

2.6 Slavery in the British Colonies

7 min readdecember 23, 2022

J

James Glackin

J

James Glackin

The first recorded slave transaction took place in in 1619 when arrived on a . Most of these would become . During the first half of the 17th century, white European served as the majority of laborers in all of the 13 colonies. A small number of were also servants.

🎥Watch: AP US History - The Impact of Slavery on Colonial America

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2Fslaveshipbrooksreduced-1000x1182.jpg?alt=media&token=d9e81ae3-d6d8-4221-9a7f-371315850607

“Stowage of the British slave ship Brookes under the regulated slave trade act of 1788,” 1789, via Wikimedia. Slave ships transported 11-12 million Africans to destinations in North and South America, but it was not until the end of the 18th century that any regulation was introduced. The Brookes print dates to after the Regulated Slave Trade Act of 1788, but still shows enslaved Africans chained in rows using iron leg shackles. The slave ship Brookes was allowed to carry up to 454 slaves, allotting 6 feet (1.8 m) by 1 foot 4 inches (0.41 m) to each man; 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) by 1 foot 4 inches (0.41 m) to each women, and 5 feet (1.5 m) by 1 foot 2 inches (0.36 m) to each child, but one slave trader alleged that before 1788, the ship carried as many as 609 slaves.

By 1700, black would be sent to the Americas against their will. This racial change was the result of in 1676, where many poor white farmers staged a violent uprising against the government and wealthy tobacco planters of . The fear of a large, poor, resentful white population led the wealthy planters to look for a new labor force in Africa.

Black Africans were transported from western Africa in mostly Portuguese and British ships across the Atlantic Ocean as part of the . This gruesome trip took about 6 weeks in which about 20% of the slaves on board would die from disease, starvation, or suicide. Africans were enchained below deck in putrid conditions.  

The majority of black Africans were sent to and the . Many slaves would die in their sugar mills or in the fields of the .

Triangular Trade

The was a system of trade that involved the exchange of goods and people between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. It is named for the triangular shape formed by the routes of trade, which connected the three regions.

The was a key part of the global economy during the era of European colonization and was a major source of wealth and power for European nations. At its core, the involved the exchange of , such as textiles, weapons, and alcohol, for , who were then transported to the Americas and sold to work on plantations and mines. and goods such as sugar, tobacco, and coffee were then sent from the Americas to Europe.

The had a profound impact on the history and development of the Americas, as it played a significant role in the transatlantic slave trade and the growth of slavery in the region. The also had a profound impact on Africa, as it contributed to the destabilization of many African societies and the loss of millions of people to the slave trade.

Slavery in the Northern Colonies

The of New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey had legalized slavery in the 17th and 18th centuries but their smaller farms and limited soil would make the demand for slaves less than the southern colonies. All would free most of their slaves legally by the early 19th century.

New England’s slave population was only about 3% but this number drastically increased to 25% in port cities such as Boston. Philadelphia and New York also had a significant number of slaves. Most northern slaves were domestic servants, dockworkers, sailors, and craft workers. Some would be hired out by their owners and were declared property.

In the decades before the Civil War, many slaves were freed. However, after the 1793 invention of the cotton gin, cotton and other southern products were linked to northern banking and shipping. These important economic sectors of the North had a vested interest in the agricultural production by slaves of the South.

Slavery in the Southern Colonies

The large agricultural plantations of the South and their single cash crop economies led to a high demand for slaves. Tobacco in the Chesapeake and rice and indigo in the South were all labor intensive crops. Cotton would become the major crop in the Deep South only after the invention of Eli Whitney’s cotton gin in 1793.

Tobacco, a crop that exhausted the soil and caused farmers to expand westward for more land, was harvested in , Maryland, and North Carolina. Rice plantations and indigo were harvested in South Carolina and Georgia. Initially, James Oglethorpe and his followers in Georgia banned slavery, but other southerners moved into the “peach state” and brought slaves with them as Georgia legalized slavery in 1750.

Slaves' Response to Slavery

Black slaves did resist the by murdering their owners, destroying machinery and other property, escaping, and committing suicide. Some escapees formed in swamps or in the mountains and would menace plantations for food and other products. Rebellions were not frequent, but they did happen. As part of the Stono Rebellion in South Carolina in 1739, slaves seized arms, burnt houses, and killed 25 whites.

Most of the slave revolts occurred in areas where there were a large number of slaves, such as the American South. More violent revolts happened in Jamaica, Haiti, and the Caribbean because outnumbered whites in many communities. The result of most revolts were the mass executions of black slaves. These types of overt resistance were often met with harsh punishment, but they were also a way for enslaved people to assert their dignity and to resist their oppression.

Slaves also engaged in covert resistance, in which enslaved people used subtle and covert methods to resist their oppression and maintain their dignity and sense of self. This could include acts of sabotage, such as slowing down work or damaging equipment, or using their skills and knowledge to their advantage, such as using medicinal plants to heal themselves and others.

Enslaved people also used their culture and religion as a means of resistance and as a way to maintain their sense of identity and community. They used traditional music, dance, and other cultural practices as a way to express their resistance and to keep their culture alive, and they used religion as a way to find solace and to express their belief in a higher power.

Black slaves who were born in the colonies were more prone to adopt parts of white culture than those who were brought by ship from Africa. Blacks born in the colonies developed an African-American culture that emphasized religion, distinct food, music, dance, and the importance of family. The Baptist Church became a staple of many slave communities as part of the Great Awakening religious revival starting in 1740.

Slave Laws

The Barbados Code was a major law passed in 1661 in Barbados which meant that black slaves were chattel (property) and had no basic rights that they would have been entitled to under normal English common law. This law protected the white slave owners and allowed them to kill slaves without any legal consequences. Men from Barbados would move into the American colonies and bring these codes with them.

Other codes were consistent throughout the American colonies. Slaves could not travel without a written slip from their master. They were forbidden to gather in large numbers, except in the company of whites. These laws also did not allow blacks to marry, read, or serve on juries.

This system of chattel slavery, in which enslaved people were treated as property and had no legal rights, became the dominant labor system in many of the southern colonies in North America. It was based on a strict racial hierarchy that was codified into law and that prohibited interracial relationships and defined the descendants of African American mothers as black and enslaved in perpetuity.

Under this system, enslaved people were owned by their masters and were forced to work long hours on plantations, mines, and other labor-intensive ventures. They had no rights or freedoms, and they were subject to harsh and inhumane treatment, including corporal punishment and sexual abuse.

The system of chattel slavery was deeply entrenched in the southern colonies, and it played a central role in the economy and society of the region. It was supported by a network of laws and institutions that enforced the racial hierarchy and maintained the system of slavery.

Throughout much of the history of slavery in the United States, some people used religion as a defense for the . They argued that slavery was sanctioned by God and that it was a necessary part of society.

One of the most common arguments used to defend slavery was that it was a divinely ordained institution that was intended to bring Christian salvation to the enslaved Africans. This argument was based on the belief that Africans were heathen and that they needed to be brought under the guidance of Christian masters in order to be saved.

Key Terms to Review (36)

African Slaves

: Africans who were captured and sold into slavery during the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. They were forced into labor in plantations and mines across the Americas.

African-American Culture Development by Blacks Born in Colonies

: This refers to the unique culture developed by African-Americans born into slavery in the American colonies. This culture blended elements from various African cultures with new influences from life in America.

Bacon’s Rebellion

: Bacon's Rebellion was an armed rebellion in 1676 by Virginia settlers led by Nathaniel Bacon against the rule of Governor William Berkeley. The colonists were unhappy with how Berkeley was dealing with Native American threats on the frontier.

Barbados Code Law Passed in 1661

: The Barbados Code was a law passed in 1661 that provided the legal basis for slavery in the Caribbean. It defined slaves as property and gave slave owners absolute power over their slaves.

Brazil

: Brazil is the largest country in South America and Latin America region. It was colonized by Portugal during Age of Discovery in 1500s.

Brookes Print

: The Brookes Print is a detailed diagram that was used during the abolitionist movement in the late 18th century to expose the inhumane conditions aboard slave ships. It depicted enslaved Africans packed tightly into the lower decks of a ship named 'Brookes.'

Chattel Slavery System

: Chattel slavery is a form of slavery where people are treated as personal property that can be bought, sold, or traded.

Christian Salvation Argument to Defend Slavery Institution

: This argument claimed that enslaving Africans would save their souls by introducing them to Christianity. It was used as a moral justification for the institution of slavery.

Covert Resistance Methods: Work Slowdowns/Damaging Equipment; Medicinal Plants Use for Healing

: Covert resistance methods refer to the subtle ways enslaved people resisted their masters, such as intentionally working slowly, damaging equipment, or using medicinal plants for healing without their master's knowledge.

Dutch Warship

: A Dutch warship refers to a military ship that was used by the Netherlands, particularly during the 17th and 18th centuries when they were a major naval power. These ships were used for various purposes including trade, exploration, and warfare.

Europe, Africa, and the Americas Exchange Route

: This refers to the routes used during triangular trade where goods, slaves, and raw materials were exchanged between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

European Goods

: These are products that were manufactured in Europe during the colonial period and traded globally. Textiles refer to cloth or woven fabric, weapons include guns and ammunition, while alcohol refers to drinks like rum and brandy.

Great Awakening Religious Revival Starting from 1740

: The Great Awakening was a series of religious revivals among Protestants in the American colonies between 1720-1755, particularly around 1740. It led to the growth of evangelical and revivalist movements.

Indentured Servants

: Indentured servants were men and women who signed a contract (also known as an indenture or covenant) by which they agreed to work for a certain number of years in exchange for transportation to Virginia and once they arrived, food, clothing, and shelter.

Institution of Slavery

: The institution of slavery refers to the social, economic, and political system that supported and promoted the practice of owning individuals as property. This system was prevalent in the United States until it was abolished in 1865.

Iron Leg Shackles

: Iron leg shackles were devices used during slavery times to restrict enslaved people's movements. They were heavy iron rings connected by chains that were locked around a person's ankles.

James Oglethorpe's Followers in Georgia

: These were settlers who followed James Oglethorpe to establish the colony of Georgia as a place for debtors and poor people from England could start anew.

Maroon Groups

: Maroon groups refer to communities of runaway slaves who escaped from plantations and formed independent settlements in remote areas like swamps or mountains.

Middle Passage

: The Middle Passage refers to the part of the trade where Africans, densely packed onto ships, were transported across the Atlantic to the West Indies.

Native Americans

: Native Americans are indigenous peoples who inhabited North America before European exploration and colonization. They include various tribes with diverse cultures spread across different regions.

Northern Colonies

: The Northern Colonies refer to British settlements located in North America's northeastern region. They included New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Plantations and Mines Labor Force

: The group of enslaved Africans who were forced to work in the agricultural plantations and mines in the Americas during the colonial period.

Raw Materials

: Raw materials are basic substances in their natural, unprocessed state that are used in manufacturing or industrial production processes.

Regulated Slave Trade Act of 1788

: The Regulated Slave Trade Act of 1788 (also known as Dolben's Act) was a British law that aimed at improving conditions on slave ships by limiting the number of enslaved Africans that could be transported relative to a ship's size.

Resistance Methods

: Resistance methods refer to various strategies employed by enslaved people to resist their enslavement. These included murdering owners, destroying machinery/property, escaping or committing suicide.

Rice Plantations and Indigo Harvesting in South Carolina and Georgia

: This refers to the large-scale farming operations focused on rice cultivation and indigo production in South Carolina and Georgia during colonial times.

Slave Revolts Areas: American South; Jamaica; Haiti; Caribbean

: Slave revolts areas refer to regions where significant uprisings of enslaved Africans took place during colonial times. These include parts of the American South, Jamaica, Haiti, and other Caribbean islands.

Southern Colonies Demand for Slaves

: This refers to the high demand for enslaved African labor in the southern colonies due to their agricultural economy which relied heavily on labor-intensive crops like tobacco and rice.

Stono Rebellion in South Carolina

: The Stono Rebellion was a slave revolt that occurred in 1739 in the colony of South Carolina. It was the largest slave uprising in the British mainland colonies, with 25 white people and 35 to 50 black people killed.

Stowage of the British Slave Ship Brookes

: The "Stowage of the British Slave Ship Brookes" is an infamous diagram that depicted how slaves were packed onto slave ships during the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Published by abolitionists in England in 1788, it became one of most potent images advocating for an end to slavery.

Sugar Plantations

: Large-scale farms in the New World, particularly in the Caribbean and Brazil, where sugar cane was grown and processed into sugar. These plantations relied heavily on enslaved African labor.

Tobacco Harvesting in Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina

: This refers to the cultivation and harvesting of tobacco as a cash crop by colonists in the states of Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Traditional Music/Dance/Cultural Practices as Resistance Expression

: This refers to the use of cultural elements such as music, dance, and traditional practices by oppressed groups to resist or protest against their oppression.

Triangular Trade

: Triangular trade is a multilateral system of trading in which a country pays for its imports from one country by its exports to another. In context of colonial America this involved raw materials sent from colonies to Europe; manufactured goods from Europe sent to Africa; slaves from Africa sent to Americas.

Virginia

: One of the 13 original colonies, Virginia was established by the London Company in 1607. It played a significant role in the early history of America, including being the location of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement.

West Indies

: The West Indies is a region of islands located between North and South America, surrounded by Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean.


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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.


© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.