Jaspreet Sangha
History 11 Paper #1
For much of the seventeenth century, Virginia’s labor force consisted largely of white indentured servants from England. Over time, a growing number of Africans, both free and enslaved, worked alongside, and lived among, these young white men. While black Virginians were always subject to prejudicial treatment at the hands of the majority population, they still enjoyed many of the same rights as other Virginians for years. By the early eighteenth century, however, life for black Virginians—whether enslaved or free—had become more difficult. Africans would work alongside with indentured servants. There was a time where you weren’t able to tell the differences between an indentured servant or a slave. Slaves then had some rights, for example they were able to have their own property and sell their own goods, choose their spouses, and even sue their owners and testify in court. But over time things began to change. In 1639 to 1705, laws began being passed to restrict and limit free or enslaved Africans. In the 1669 law, it was said that if a slave disobeys their master or mistress, the grand jury will decide the punishment. Also if the slave dies, the owner will not be punished for it because nobody would intentionally destroy their own property (Laws on Slavery & Servitude, 1669 p. 1). Later down the road, the 1705 laws started being passed, making it easier to kill slaves by the public. The 1705 XXXVII law states that a runaway slave can be killed by anyone, and to terrify other slaves, those who tried to runaway would be dismembered in public (Laws on Slavery & Servitude, 1705 p. 3). Following that law, the 1705 XXXVIII was passed stating that slave owners would be reimbursed for their killed slave (Laws on Slavery & Servitude, 1705 p. 3). In 1609, only the grand jury could punish the slaves. Over time the masters or mistresses were allowed to, and then it allowed the public of punish or kill however they saw fit. Another issue that changed over time, was interracial and sexual relationships with Africans and whites. The 1660 and 1662 laws were put into place to fine those people who decided to run away or be with an African man or woman (Laws on Slavery & Servitude, 1660 p. 1). The 1691 law is where the change really hits the Africans. “English or other white man or women being free shall intermarry with a negro, mulatto, or Indian man or woman bond being free shall within three months after marriage be banished and removed from the dominion forever...” (Laws on Slavery & Servitude, 1691 part 2 p. 2). The third part of the 1691 law states that if a woman has a child with an …show more content…
It made it easier to kill and punish the slaves however they felt like it because they knew that they would be refunded for it and they wouldn’t be held responsible for the act. The laws gradually made it impossible to have an interracial relationship. At first it was just fines, and then it went to prison time, and making the children suffer also. Whether enslaved or free, these laws limited the Africans from being with who they want and made it extremely difficult for the free or enslaved Africans to
History 11 Paper #1
For much of the seventeenth century, Virginia’s labor force consisted largely of white indentured servants from England. Over time, a growing number of Africans, both free and enslaved, worked alongside, and lived among, these young white men. While black Virginians were always subject to prejudicial treatment at the hands of the majority population, they still enjoyed many of the same rights as other Virginians for years. By the early eighteenth century, however, life for black Virginians—whether enslaved or free—had become more difficult. Africans would work alongside with indentured servants. There was a time where you weren’t able to tell the differences between an indentured servant or a slave. Slaves then had some rights, for example they were able to have their own property and sell their own goods, choose their spouses, and even sue their owners and testify in court. But over time things began to change. In 1639 to 1705, laws began being passed to restrict and limit free or enslaved Africans. In the 1669 law, it was said that if a slave disobeys their master or mistress, the grand jury will decide the punishment. Also if the slave dies, the owner will not be punished for it because nobody would intentionally destroy their own property (Laws on Slavery & Servitude, 1669 p. 1). Later down the road, the 1705 laws started being passed, making it easier to kill slaves by the public. The 1705 XXXVII law states that a runaway slave can be killed by anyone, and to terrify other slaves, those who tried to runaway would be dismembered in public (Laws on Slavery & Servitude, 1705 p. 3). Following that law, the 1705 XXXVIII was passed stating that slave owners would be reimbursed for their killed slave (Laws on Slavery & Servitude, 1705 p. 3). In 1609, only the grand jury could punish the slaves. Over time the masters or mistresses were allowed to, and then it allowed the public of punish or kill however they saw fit. Another issue that changed over time, was interracial and sexual relationships with Africans and whites. The 1660 and 1662 laws were put into place to fine those people who decided to run away or be with an African man or woman (Laws on Slavery & Servitude, 1660 p. 1). The 1691 law is where the change really hits the Africans. “English or other white man or women being free shall intermarry with a negro, mulatto, or Indian man or woman bond being free shall within three months after marriage be banished and removed from the dominion forever...” (Laws on Slavery & Servitude, 1691 part 2 p. 2). The third part of the 1691 law states that if a woman has a child with an …show more content…
It made it easier to kill and punish the slaves however they felt like it because they knew that they would be refunded for it and they wouldn’t be held responsible for the act. The laws gradually made it impossible to have an interracial relationship. At first it was just fines, and then it went to prison time, and making the children suffer also. Whether enslaved or free, these laws limited the Africans from being with who they want and made it extremely difficult for the free or enslaved Africans to