The Beginning of Slavery

Contrary to what many assume, slavery was not originally based on race. In fact, slavery was a new idea when it began to grow in America; indeed, this developement was far more detailed than we genearlly guess.

The beginning of slavery based on race did not begin with the comoing of Africans to America and the arrival of the Dutch ship that carried them in 1619; it did not really begin with the need for labor when Jamestown realized that selling tobacco could save their colony; it did not even truly begin with indentured servitude. Of course, all of these events made the slavery we shudder to remember possible; but the true beginning was much slower coming.

Especially in the Southern states of America, where the land was perfect for farming, laborers were coming into greater and greater demand. Plantations were going up, and they needed workers to maintain them. So it was that indentured servitude came to America. Anyone of any race could enter a contract of indentured servitude. This included pledging a specified amount of time (often 5-7 years) someone who would then feed, clothe, and provide shelter for them, while the servant would spend these years laboring for their master. At the end of their time they were freed, with some form of reward (land, money, or some other form of opportunity). Indentured servitude was very popular for some time, until people realized that the harsh physical labor was not worth the limited rewards, while meanwhile the demand for workers grew. Then, in the 1640s, things began to change.

At aout this time, two white men and one African man ran away from their servitude. The two white men were sentenced to return to their positions to complete their contract, with another year added to their required time there. The African man, however, was sentenced to a lifetime of servitude. Not only did this bring about the idea of a lifetime servitude (soon to become slavery), but it also began racism. Soon, laws were being changed. Though at one time requirements stated that anyone not Christian could be a slave, it did not take long for the law to change, making it simply anyone not white could be forced into slavery. Of course, this made trials simpler; Africans, being of different color, were easilly identified as slaves. Indeed, many "free" Africans became "slaves" simply because no one would believe they were free!

And so it was that our "free" country turned to a land of indentured servitude which transformed into a world of slavery which reached a climax of slavery based on race.