PRESENTATION OUTLINE
As early as 1619, colonists turned to forced slavery for the labor force. Unlike indentured servitude, slavery was only for African descendants, permanent, and inherited.
With an overabundance of land and a shortage of workers, colonists turned to slavery, a reliable source of workers, out of economic necessity.
Farmers, servants, and slaves rebelled against the governor of Virginia. Bacon's rebellion caused the establishment to turn to slavery, favoring race distinctions over class distinctions.
Race defined freedom. As slavery became the backbone of the economy, a new belief emerged that servitude was the natural state of blacks.
Although some owners were kind and sympathetic, slaves were often subjected to terrible treatment, including brutal beatings and sexual abuse.
Although usually only small forms of resistance through daily behavior, slave revolts, like Nat Turner's occurred as slaves fought for freedom.
Slave women had a particularly hard time, having to work in the fields, cook, clean, and raise children, while taking beatings and sometimes being raped.
Urban slaves often had more independence; owners could not supervise them as closely. The South's need for laborers influenced some to hire out their slaves.
Some urban slaves were even able to buy their freedom.
Slave families were often divided and sold to separate owners. However, families ties were no weaker than their white counterparts.
Slaves often had very separate spheres from their white owners, even though they were dependent and interrelated.
To slave owners, religion was just another way to control their servants. For the slaves, however, religion gave hope for future freedom from bondage.
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