African Americans in Antebellum America

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Africans first arrived in the area that later became the United States of America in around 1619 in the Chesapeake area. The large amount of fertile land in the area gave the settlers their biggest cash crop, which was tobacco. As time went by, more and more tobacco was being exported to England. Because of this, more labor was needed. This need for more labor was not only in the north, but in the south as well due to their mass production of cotton. This movement started the institution of slavery in America. Then, the colonies and other countries started to trade slaves and it became a business. The Royal African Company was the first slave trading company, which was started in 1672. The slaves were transported by the Middle Passage, which were the ships that carried the slaves to the colonies . The vessels of this company made regular visits to Chesapeake Bay. As the supply of slaves increased, the prices dropped. In 1698, the Royal African Company lost its monopoly. This led to the reproduction of slaves in the colonies. Indentured servitude, which is signing a contract and putting your body in service to someone, was common the Chesapeake area until about 1750.

About 5,000 African slaves fought in the Revolutionary War against England. I say "African" because there was not a United States when the war started in 1775. The Declaration of Independence was written in 1776. Most of the slaves who fought in the war were promised freedom, but did not receive it. Slavery became a way of life for most Africans that later became African Americans until some states abolished slavery, owners decided to free their slaves, or if the slaves ran away from their owners and journeyed to a non-slave state.

When Ameri...

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...t African Americans had a harsh life before the Civil War, due to slavery. Children played and enjoyed their childhood life with the white children, until they were slaves. A few imitated their masters and whipped their black friends. Others accompanied their parents while they were working. Many types of discipline were used. Owners withheld food, confined them, shackles and iron collars, and at the last resort, a whip. Slaves were punished for various things, from a mere look, to running away or murder. Religion was sometimes used to control the slaves. Some African Americans believed that in the afterlife, the white people would be their servants and slaves. Most slaves never fully adapted to Christianity. Most blended the West African religion and Christianity together or fully kept their West African religion and completely disregarded Christianity.

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