Slavery was initiated in 1609 in Jamestown, a city discovered by the British, in the state of Virginia (Zinn). It began with a ship carrying 20 slaves and would increase to almost 7 million by the 18th century (“Slavery in America”). Slavery has shaped our nation’s economic and social structures in many ways. Some of the numerous causes of the enslavement of these African-Americans are America’s relations with others and the lack of resources present in the country.
The type of relationship Colonial Americans had with people of different ethnicity was a huge factor in the enslavement of Blacks. The first blacks who set foot in the United States of America were seen as servants and were given minimal respect by Colonial Americans (Zinn). This …show more content…
Colonists were in desperate need for a surplus of corn, tobacco, rice and indigo in order to survive and trade (“Slavery in America”). The denizens of the state of Virginia weren’t accustomed to functioning a city by themselves as they had little to no experience working in the fields (Resnick). The need of food and produce was augmented during the winter of 1609-1610. A group of colonists from Virginia said that, “The allowance in those times for a man was only eight ounces of meale and half a pint of peas for a day ….”(qtd. in Zinn). Eventually, starvation reached a point to where people started eating human flesh! By the end of the starvation period, only 60 of the original 500 colonists survived in Jamestown (Resnick). This lethal event fostered the enslavement of African-Americans. Africans were the only group of people who the Americans could force into labor at the time. The Indians were developed enough to fight back if enslaved and also had the advantage of feeling more at home. Native Americans had the ability to use the resources around them for their benefit and could therefore could counteract any initial signs of enslavement. In addition to the blacks being the only group the Americans could dragoon into labor, they were also the cheapest. James Madison stated that one can make $257 per negroe and only have to pay the negroe between $12 and $13 (Zinn). The paucity of resources essential to the survival in the colonies would also lead to the adoption of slavery during the 17th
The type of relationship Colonial Americans had with people of different ethnicity was a huge factor in the enslavement of Blacks. The first blacks who set foot in the United States of America were seen as servants and were given minimal respect by Colonial Americans (Zinn). This …show more content…
Colonists were in desperate need for a surplus of corn, tobacco, rice and indigo in order to survive and trade (“Slavery in America”). The denizens of the state of Virginia weren’t accustomed to functioning a city by themselves as they had little to no experience working in the fields (Resnick). The need of food and produce was augmented during the winter of 1609-1610. A group of colonists from Virginia said that, “The allowance in those times for a man was only eight ounces of meale and half a pint of peas for a day ….”(qtd. in Zinn). Eventually, starvation reached a point to where people started eating human flesh! By the end of the starvation period, only 60 of the original 500 colonists survived in Jamestown (Resnick). This lethal event fostered the enslavement of African-Americans. Africans were the only group of people who the Americans could force into labor at the time. The Indians were developed enough to fight back if enslaved and also had the advantage of feeling more at home. Native Americans had the ability to use the resources around them for their benefit and could therefore could counteract any initial signs of enslavement. In addition to the blacks being the only group the Americans could dragoon into labor, they were also the cheapest. James Madison stated that one can make $257 per negroe and only have to pay the negroe between $12 and $13 (Zinn). The paucity of resources essential to the survival in the colonies would also lead to the adoption of slavery during the 17th