Download Slavery & Indentured Servitude in British North America: Profit & Social Growth - Prof. Ri and more Study notes United States History in PDF only on Docsity! 1. Slavery in British North America developed out of the simple desire for economic profit. Use evidence to debate the validity of this claim. Slavery was completely developed out of economic interest America o Began with indentured servants from Europe who worked for a set period of time o Then progressed towards slavery Rising wages in England were making indentured servitude less attractive Falling cost of slaves A replenishing labor supply Middle Passage o Most slaves came from west Africa – other Africans would capture and sell them o Triangle Trade 1. North America sends raw materials to Europe 2. Europe sends manufactured products to Africa 3. Africa sends slaves to North America 2. How did indentured servitude and slavery shape the economic and social development of the British North American colonies? In your answer be sure to address not only economic development, but race relations as well. Slaves became cheaper, allowing cash cropping to be more effective Widened the gap between the upper and lower classes If workers don’t have to pay for laborers, it maximizes their profit From a business standpoint, keeping slaves alive as long as possible was economically beneficial, so their level of treatment was better Black slaves became the ultimate lowest class as they had no possessions whatsoever Some black slaves resented their unfair position in society and decided to revolt against their white captors “Slave society” slavery is the primary form of labor and a staple in all economic affairs Separation of whites, white indentured servants, and black slaves Slave codes take away slave’s rights o Masters have total authority over their slaves o No slave meetings without their master’s consent o Speech limitations o Harboring runaway slaves is a criminal offense o Slaves can not stay at inns or go to taverns o Slaves must carry lanterns after dark 6. How did immigration, inequality and sexual politics reshape colonial society prior to the American Revolution? Immigration Four main clusters of colonies 1. New England 2. Mid Atlantic 3. Chesapeake 4. Lower South As time passed, the rate of immigration increased Trade bolstered the economy, and more imports as well as immigrants arrived in the colonies (safer ships and cheaper transportation prices) Plantation Act: foreign colonists could win the same rights as natural born British colonists through a. Live in the colonies for 7 years b. Swear allegiance to the King of England c. Take communion in any protestant church d. Pay a small two shilling fee People from all over Europe immigrated, bringing diverse cultural backgrounds and religions to the colonies. o England o Scotland o Germany Inequality Wide range of social classes in Colonial America America was the best “poor man’s country” o Life expectancies were 20 years higher on average for Americans than those in England o The birthrate of people in the colonies was strikingly high, but much of this was caused by immigration o Colonists ate a more nutritious diet than Europeans o The average height in America was 5’8”, two inches taller than the average in Europe o Colonial poverty was not as bad as European poverty Most colonists that were not in poverty were very narrowly avoiding it Many immigrants arriving in the U.S. were impoverished Factors that led to poverty included… o Unemployment o Booms and busts o War o Alcoholism o Low wages o Mental illness o High mortality rates o Accidents, Disasters, and lack of welfare program
