SLAVERY IN CHESAPEAKE
Due to the growth of tobacco plantations, the demand for slaves grew. Slaves proved to be far better land workers than the natives, and unlike servants they did not fall under English common law. A master’s ownership never expired, they were immune to western diseases and kin were born into slavery. They were brought to a strange land and were unable to easily blend with the local population. This all led to slaves becoming the main land workers of the plantations. In order to keep blacks as slaves, officials defined the difference between black and white servants. This was an attempt to make Chesapeake a more desirable place for Europeans, while also trying to stop the freeing of blacks. The more slaves they lost, the
Due to the growth of tobacco plantations, the demand for slaves grew. Slaves proved to be far better land workers than the natives, and unlike servants they did not fall under English common law. A master’s ownership never expired, they were immune to western diseases and kin were born into slavery. They were brought to a strange land and were unable to easily blend with the local population. This all led to slaves becoming the main land workers of the plantations. In order to keep blacks as slaves, officials defined the difference between black and white servants. This was an attempt to make Chesapeake a more desirable place for Europeans, while also trying to stop the freeing of blacks. The more slaves they lost, the