Prompted by trans-Atlantic interactions, indentured servitude and slavery enabled labor systems to begin to evolve in the time period from 1600-1763 in the British North American colonies. The rapidly increasing need for labor in the colonies drastically impacted the evolution of labor systems. Impacts included new imports of slaves and changes in previous colonial relations between American Indians and African Americans.
While slavery was still a dominant source of labor, there were drastic changes in the colonies’ usage and treatment of servants from 1600-1763. By this time, Spanish colonists had been trading and using American Indians as slaves for decades. However, when a group of black Africans were imported, they were also utilized …show more content…
By 1750, more than half of Virginia’s and South Carolina’s population was enslaved. Slavery continued for many reasons. First, there was an increased demand for slaves. Because of reduced immigration, dependable workforce, and cheap labor, slavery grew. Second, slave laws enacted by the colonists ensured that Africans stayed separate from whites and were in bondage for most of their life. By 1664, there were laws that recognized Africans as lawful captives and laws that restricted African freedom. Lastly, Triangular Trade had a major role. After the monopoly of the Royal African Company, merchants entered slave trade, where they used triangular trade. Merchant ships would travel in a triangle, visiting three places. At each of these places, goods from that last place would be traded for goods from that place. Africans were taken captive and used in this trade. They were traded over the Middle Passage, where they were taken to the West Indies and traded for sugar cane. This system caused slavery to be numerous in the West Indies. One of the biggest events that impacted the change from indentured servitude to slavery was Bacon’s Rebellion. The rebellion, led by Nathaniel Bacon, included some indentured servants. This uprising taught the ruling class of colonists that complete control was needed for their sources of labor. So, landowners looked to slavery. Because slavery was still developing, these events applied to regions of the colonies
While slavery was still a dominant source of labor, there were drastic changes in the colonies’ usage and treatment of servants from 1600-1763. By this time, Spanish colonists had been trading and using American Indians as slaves for decades. However, when a group of black Africans were imported, they were also utilized …show more content…
By 1750, more than half of Virginia’s and South Carolina’s population was enslaved. Slavery continued for many reasons. First, there was an increased demand for slaves. Because of reduced immigration, dependable workforce, and cheap labor, slavery grew. Second, slave laws enacted by the colonists ensured that Africans stayed separate from whites and were in bondage for most of their life. By 1664, there were laws that recognized Africans as lawful captives and laws that restricted African freedom. Lastly, Triangular Trade had a major role. After the monopoly of the Royal African Company, merchants entered slave trade, where they used triangular trade. Merchant ships would travel in a triangle, visiting three places. At each of these places, goods from that last place would be traded for goods from that place. Africans were taken captive and used in this trade. They were traded over the Middle Passage, where they were taken to the West Indies and traded for sugar cane. This system caused slavery to be numerous in the West Indies. One of the biggest events that impacted the change from indentured servitude to slavery was Bacon’s Rebellion. The rebellion, led by Nathaniel Bacon, included some indentured servants. This uprising taught the ruling class of colonists that complete control was needed for their sources of labor. So, landowners looked to slavery. Because slavery was still developing, these events applied to regions of the colonies