Slavery was an important part of the southern economy during the 17th and 18th centuries. This was due in part to the geography and climate of the south, which made plantations more prevalent in the southern colonies than in the northern colonies. Additionally, legal distinctions were made between indentured servants and slaves, which also helped aid the growth of slavery. The decreasing supply of indentured servants during the 1680’s lead to the increased usage of slavery in the colonies as well. Factors such as the geography and climate of the south, distinctions between indentured servants and slaves, and the economic feasibility of slavery contributed to the growth of slavery as a part of the economy in the southern colonies between 1607
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At first, poor white colonists could not afford slaves because there was a chance that the slaves would die shortly after arriving. White indentured servants were utilized more during this time. Even though it was still possible for indentured servants to die shortly after arriving in the colonies, they were less costly than slaves. But in the 1680’s, fewer English citizens were willing to become indentured servants, which caused a decrease in the supply of indentured servants to the colonies. For this reason, use of slavery in the southern colonies began to increase during this time. By the mid-1860’s, black slaves outnumbered white servants on plantations for the first time. Additionally, the Royal African Company lost their monopoly on brining slaves to the colonies. This caused a number of Americans to cash in on slave trade and the supply of slaves to the colonies grew. More than ten thousand Africans were brought to America in the decade after 1700. By 1750, blacks accounted for nearly half of Virginia’s population and blacks outnumbered whites two to one in South Carolina. This increased supply of slaves coupled with the decreased supply of indentured servants caused slavery to become more economically reliable, which contributed to the growth of slavery in the southern
At first, poor white colonists could not afford slaves because there was a chance that the slaves would die shortly after arriving. White indentured servants were utilized more during this time. Even though it was still possible for indentured servants to die shortly after arriving in the colonies, they were less costly than slaves. But in the 1680’s, fewer English citizens were willing to become indentured servants, which caused a decrease in the supply of indentured servants to the colonies. For this reason, use of slavery in the southern colonies began to increase during this time. By the mid-1860’s, black slaves outnumbered white servants on plantations for the first time. Additionally, the Royal African Company lost their monopoly on brining slaves to the colonies. This caused a number of Americans to cash in on slave trade and the supply of slaves to the colonies grew. More than ten thousand Africans were brought to America in the decade after 1700. By 1750, blacks accounted for nearly half of Virginia’s population and blacks outnumbered whites two to one in South Carolina. This increased supply of slaves coupled with the decreased supply of indentured servants caused slavery to become more economically reliable, which contributed to the growth of slavery in the southern