Effects On African American Slavery

The main focus of my five paragraphs is to show how the slaves were used for money. Also to show the effect it has on us now. On reaching the Americas the crew of slave ships prepared the Africans for sale. They washed, shaved and rubbed them with palm oil to disguise sores and wounds caused by conditions on board. Immediately owners and their overseers sought to obliterate the identities of their newly acquired slaves, to break their wills and sever any bonds with the past. They forced Africans to adapt to new working and living conditions, to learn a new language and adopt new customs. They called this process 'seasoning' and it could last two or three years. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness simply did not seem consistent with the practice of slavery. Somehow slavery would manage to survive the revolutionary era. Although great changes were brought to this peculiar institution nevertheless. …show more content…
The British army, who was eager to debase the colonial economy, freed many slaves as they moved through the South. Meanwhile many slaves in the North were granted their freedom if they agreed to fight for the American cause. Although a clear majority of African Americans remained in bondage, the growth of free black communities in America was greatly fostered by the War for American Independence. Revolutionary sentiments led to the banning of the importation of slaves in 1807. Slavery did not end overnight. Before any type of reform could happen, people needed to recognize that the economic benefit was vastly overshadowed by the overwhelming repugnance, immorality, and inhumanity of