Colonial Slavery Dbq

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The two documents describe Colonial slavery in two diverse ways, the "Reasons Why We Are Against the Traffic of Men-Body" gives way to moral issues. Giving rise to the opinion on a small German Quaker meeting. Versus one individual ideals of, Benjamin Franklin in the "Observation on Increase of Mankind" is effect on the economy and the integrity of the country. The anti-slavery movement evolved into riots from the African-Americans which was due to unfair treatment of the condition. Including the Caribbean and Indians rebellion. They had indentured servitude of the white men who then became unwilling services of Caribbean, Indians, and African-Americans. The document in question is one of two. The first being Germantown Quaker Meeting, "Reasons …show more content…

Franklin thought that slavery was not cost effective for the economy of the America which was the first matter of business. The master would lose money if the slave died or was killed or became sick. The cost of just purchasing a slave was steep, "Slaves one with another cost £30 Sterling per Head" (S5-6). The cost of slaves has been just too costly for the state of the country. The cheaper option was to work for the money given, "...compare the whole Amount with the Wages of a Manufacturer of Iron or Wool in England, you will see that Labour is much Cheaper there than it ever can be by Negroes here" (S5-6). Financially, it was easier to just work for the companies that get a slave which had added the cost of life insurance and his clothing, food, and sickness pay as well as compensation for loss or neglect of time or business. Slavery undermines the integrity of the Colonies. "…the Slaves being work'd too hard, and ill fed, their Constitutions are broken, and the Death among them are most than the Births: so that a continual Supply needed for Africa" (S5-7). Franklin explained that the slave would take the place of their master which in turn made the master lazy. The master would if the slave was indentured would have him take his place for him instead of his son or himself. Or the indentured servant would leave the master in the middle of business to go tend to his

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