Slavery in America

Slavery in America began when the first African slaves were brought to the North American colony of Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619. A Dutch slave trader exchanged 20 Africans for food and supplies. The British were hesitant to accept slavery into their new American colonies because they relied on indentured servants in the 17th century. In 1625, there were only 23 Africans present in the colony of Virginia, which year's later increases to 950 slaves. By 1860 About 600,000 slaves were imported into the U.S., or 5% of the 12 million slaves brought across from Africa to the Americas.

The majority of African slaves went to colonies in the Caribbean and to Brazil, where life probability was short. However in the U.S. because of generally better food, less disease, lighter workloads, and better medical care the numbers grew rapidly reaching 4 million by the 1860 Census. Men and women slaves were torn from homeland and family. Both were forced to perform grueling labor, subjected to mental and physical degradation, and denied their most basic rights. Enslaved men and women were beaten harshly, separated from loved ones randomly, and, regardless of sex, treated as property in the eyes of the law.

Slave buyers in the colonies turned to purchasing female field hands, who were more available, but also cheaper. In fact, because skilled labor, such as carpentry and blacksmithing, was assigned only to male slaves, the black men available for agricultural work was further reduced. As a result, female slaves eventually outnumbered men in field forces. Disproportionately males were considered more valuable workers because of their strength, enslaved men performed labors that ranged from building houses to plowing fields.Slaves on plantations lived in small cabins. They were given food and clothing by their owners.

On small farms with few slaves, women were more likely to perform the same labor as men. Some were better fed and clothed than others, depending on how benevolent their owners were. They were not paid wages, but slaves were allowed to sell the garden produce that they grew on the little plots by their cabins, and might earn a bit of money that way. 'Women often obtained calico to make a special dress for parties and church, and it was one of the first things slave women bought if they made money by selling garden produce. Slave owners might occasionally give their slaves money as a reward for some special service they had performed.

One plantation owner, Major Wallon, offered every new mother a calico dress and a silver dollar to encourage them to have babies. Most slaves did field