Slavery today:
27 million slaves around the world (that is double number of slaves that came from Africa between 1500 and 1800)
People forced to work without pay, cannot walk away, operating 24/7 under threat of violence
Most of them living in slavery in South and East Asia, Africa, South America, and Mexico (we can’t find any cases of slavery only on Iceland and Greenland)
Average price of a slave today is 90 dollars. In North America 3000 to 8000 dollars per slave, but in poor countries, like India or Nepal a slave could cost like 3 to 5 US dollars (disposable people)
First slaves in English colonies
1616 – first slaves bought in English Colonies (Barbados)
1619 – first slaves bought in English North America (Jamestown, Virginia)
Indentured servants:
Mostly white servants
In exchange for the payment of voyage to America servants sold their work (four to seven years of service)
Once the contract was completed, planters were required to provide his servant with clothing, tool, seeds, and sometimes even a piece of land with a house (so-called “freedom dues”)
Towards slavery
Initially, white and black servants worked together and were treated similarly although what was their exact status was not clear
In the 1660s the process of replacing white servants with black slaves began, although it took several decades
During this period there were also initial legal regulations shaping the status of slaves in the English colonies
Royal African Company (1672)
That change in British attitudes towards slavery and slave trade is marked bu the creation of the first English slave trade company. In 1660 a group of investors joined their capital in Company of Royal Adventurers Trading to Africa, and in 1672 Charles II issued a charter for the Royal African Company
The Atlantic Slave Trade
Before 1700 more than half a million of Africans had been sold to slavery in Brazil; another 900 thousand to the Spanish colonies of continental America and Caribbean islands. Between 1500 and 1800 more than 10 million people were sold as slaves in American, 80% of them ended up in Brasil.
1790 United States Census
Of about 700.000 slaves living in the US, 90% lived in the South 300.000 in Virginia alone)
The census showed also that in 1790 there were about 30.000 free African Americans living in the US
Ideal slave
Did not think, served
Was to be loyal, even affectionate, hardworking, obedient and attentive
Usually healthy, young and strong – men and women – were considered “merchantable”
Tasks for slaves of either gender
“ (…) ploughing, planting, picking cotton, gathering the corn, and pulling and burning stalks, occupies the whole of the four seasons of the year. Drawing and cutting wood, pressing cotton, fattening and killing hogs, are but incidental labors. ”
Slave codes
Slaves were chattels without civil and political rights
A slave could not sue or testify in court (except in the case involving other blacks)
No slave oaths, contracts, marriages, private property, and last wills were recognized or respected
Forbidden
Leaving the plantation without a written permission from the owner
Possession of weapons (such as knives, clubs – even a stick or stone)
Gambling, playing musical instruments
Smoking or cursing in the presence of whites (verte!)
Literacy!
Driving a horse carriage, selling and purchasing of goods (unless serving)
Gatherings (unless in the presence of whites)
Punishment
Beatings: whip (10 to even 200 lashes), clubs, pillory, stocks, The most severe punishment was hanging
Slave resistance