Slavery In North America

The Development of Slavery in North America The development of slavery in the Americas began as early as 1500, after the arrival of the Spanish, and first centered around the Caribbean. However, a lucrative triangle trading system between England, Africa and North America greatly increased the slave trade during the 1600’s (Foner, 38). At the time, slavery was driven by market forces, and largely defined by geographical necessity. Landowners had large plantations, located in areas with small populations and did not have access to the cheap labor necessary to cultivate lucrative crops like tobacco and sugar. They needed slaves to economically survive and prosper. Later, in the American colonies of the south, the entire economic and social structure

Some slaves enjoyed small amounts of freedom, and some became freemen. Anthony Johnson arrived a slave, and ended his life as a plantation owner. Slavery, particularly in the South, gained traction at the end of the 1600’s, when a social and economic elite joined forces and movements like Bacon’s Rebellion solidified power in the hands of white landowners. The institution of slavery accelerated into the 1700’s, when slaves became the primary source of labor in the South, promoting economic growth through the exportation of cash crops like tobacco. The anti-slavery movement, and slaves desiring freedom and running away from their owners also intensified during this time period (Foner,

To a plantation owner, slaves were seen as a commodity or resource to be exploited, like tobacco or sugarcane. To many northern politicians, who may have been morally against slavery, it was not an issue worth splitting up the United States. It sustained the Southern economy, which relied almost exclusively on agriculture. However, it also went against the foundations of American democracy. As early as the 1770’s, there were signs that Americans were deeply divided over race. There was resistance against slavery and blacks were sometimes able to negotiate or buy their way out of slavery. During the American Revolution, General George Washington accepted black recruits and five thousand African-Americans served during the war. Some slaves gained freedom by serving in place of their owners. Over 100,000 blacks logically chose to fight with the English, and 15,000 fled for England after the war. In the North, the push for emancipation started early, almost immediately after the Revolutionary War, but this would turn out to be a very slow process, and instigate a division that would split the country in