In 1492, Christopher Columbus along with other Spaniards first arrived in the New World. This kicked off the interaction of Europe and the New World, culminating in British domination of the thirteen colonies in America with slavery as the cornerstone of the colonial economy. Slaves were common on plantations where they farmed tobacco, indigo, and rice. There are two main reasons that slavery began to succeed in the colonies: the decreased use of indentured servants, and the growing popularity of cultivating cash crops in America. Slavery was common in the colonies partially because plantations that grew cash crops such as tobacco were common. Of course, to turn the most profit, plantation owners wanted the cheapest labor possible
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After the long and expensive process of taking slaves from one continent to another, no one wanted to make the slaves free by converting them. Conversely, white men wanted to convert many people to Christianity in an effort to make themselves look better and to “save” those beneath them. A decree was issued from the Virginia General Assembly that slaves could be converted without being freed. This allowed Virginians to continue farming their cash crops like tobacco without seeking alternative labor. This would of course come from the Virginia General Assembly. The POV of this is from citizens of Virgina. This southern colony’s economy was built on cash crops like tobacco. They wanted to continue making money off of their slaves (Doc, 4). Because of these reasons and more, slaves were very valuable goods. When they successfully ran away, their slaves owners really wanted them back. Their options are either to find the runaway slaves, replace the slaves, or do the work themselves. Slaves were imperative in cash crop farming. Because they were expensive and useful “products” slave owners wanted them for their full life. This is clear in an advertisement offering a price for …show more content…
This is apparent in a graph showing, in short, that when the population of indentured servants went down, the slave population went up. There were many benefits to slaves as opposed to indentured servants. For one, payment allowed you to have them for their whole life instead of just 7 years. Slave owners also got the children of their slaves. This allowed colonists to have a thriving workforce (Doc,1). Another reason for slavery is that while indentured servants eventually get their freedom, slaves never do. So while incidents like Bacon’s Rebellion are a constant danger with indentured servants, slave revolts are largely unsuccessful and few in number. William Sherwood described Bacon’s Rebellion and the danger it posed to the free colonists. Under the realization that indentured servants would quickly outnumber the colonists, the colonies turned to slavery. Under slavery, the slaves never get their freedom so they can't pose threats as Nathaniel Bacon and his followers did. Granted, the audience of this letter was a nobleman in England. So, Sherwood would want to absolve himself of all blame, and make him and his fellow free men out to be the victims with no blame to be assigned to them (Doc,5). Again, a benefit of slavery is that slave owners get to enslave the children of their slaves. This is clear in one example where a Francis Pott enslaved “two daughters of my
After the long and expensive process of taking slaves from one continent to another, no one wanted to make the slaves free by converting them. Conversely, white men wanted to convert many people to Christianity in an effort to make themselves look better and to “save” those beneath them. A decree was issued from the Virginia General Assembly that slaves could be converted without being freed. This allowed Virginians to continue farming their cash crops like tobacco without seeking alternative labor. This would of course come from the Virginia General Assembly. The POV of this is from citizens of Virgina. This southern colony’s economy was built on cash crops like tobacco. They wanted to continue making money off of their slaves (Doc, 4). Because of these reasons and more, slaves were very valuable goods. When they successfully ran away, their slaves owners really wanted them back. Their options are either to find the runaway slaves, replace the slaves, or do the work themselves. Slaves were imperative in cash crop farming. Because they were expensive and useful “products” slave owners wanted them for their full life. This is clear in an advertisement offering a price for …show more content…
This is apparent in a graph showing, in short, that when the population of indentured servants went down, the slave population went up. There were many benefits to slaves as opposed to indentured servants. For one, payment allowed you to have them for their whole life instead of just 7 years. Slave owners also got the children of their slaves. This allowed colonists to have a thriving workforce (Doc,1). Another reason for slavery is that while indentured servants eventually get their freedom, slaves never do. So while incidents like Bacon’s Rebellion are a constant danger with indentured servants, slave revolts are largely unsuccessful and few in number. William Sherwood described Bacon’s Rebellion and the danger it posed to the free colonists. Under the realization that indentured servants would quickly outnumber the colonists, the colonies turned to slavery. Under slavery, the slaves never get their freedom so they can't pose threats as Nathaniel Bacon and his followers did. Granted, the audience of this letter was a nobleman in England. So, Sherwood would want to absolve himself of all blame, and make him and his fellow free men out to be the victims with no blame to be assigned to them (Doc,5). Again, a benefit of slavery is that slave owners get to enslave the children of their slaves. This is clear in one example where a Francis Pott enslaved “two daughters of my