The concept of slavery in the American colonies actively developed during the 17th and 18th centuries when hundreds of thousands of African people were kidnapped and forced into crop works. American colonies exploited slave labor to cultivate tobacco, sugar, and cotton before the mid-19th century (History.com Editors, 2009). In 1619, the privateer The White Lion brought 20 African slaves to the British colony of Jamestown; lately, throughout the 17th century, European colonizers considered African slaves as a cost-effective and more plentiful labor force compared to indentured servants (History.com Editors, 2009). Europeans selected the healthiest and ablest Africans to deliver them to colonies by sea. In the 17th and 18th centuries, African slaves mainly worked on the tobacco, rice, and indigo plantations.
The practice of slavery differed according to geographical location and cultivated crops in each colonial region. The introduction of slavery was considerably connected with the productivity, trade, and economic development of colonies. Nevertheless, as Wright (2020) stated, slavery already existed in the colonies at a small scale, and increased demand for crop cultivation required a more extensive production force and rate.
Moreover, a significant difference was noted between the South and North colonies, as North colonies were less economically dependent on plantations. According to Wright (2020), South regions became isolated from the national mainstream markets, expanding their production opportunities. Rising demand did nothing to improve the working and living conditions of the slaves. Therefore, the colonies with extensive production and trade rates presented unregulated exploitation of African slaves (Wright, 2020). Talking about the North, in the 19th century, it became the epicenter of the American Industrial Revolution, and slavery was gradually eliminated. The practice of slavery varied depending on the market demands of the region.
The difference between the indentured and slaves was mainly related to their social status and rights. Indentured servants were mostly representatives of colonized England and Ireland involuntary sent to American colonies (Handler & Reilly, 2017). Despite being called ‘white slaves,’ they possessed more rights comparing with African slaves. General similarities between ‘black’ and ‘white’ slaves were in living conditions and working regimes. Although evidence suggests harsh and sadistic treatment with indentured servants and slaves, Handler and Reilly (2017) claim that indentured servants were more legally privileged. Indentured servants signed contracts and were protected by law, while slaves were the property of their owners. Moreover, legally they were more protected and privileged due to the racist views of colonizers.
References
Handler, J. S., & Reilly, M. C. (2017). Contesting “White Slavery” in the Caribbean. New West Indian Guide, 91(1-2), 30–55. Web.
History.com Editors. (2009). Slavery in America. History. Web.
Wright, G. (2020). Slavery and Anglo‐American capitalism revisited. The Economic History Review, 73(2), 353–383. Web.