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History >> Colonial America

Colonial America

Slavery

Slavery was common throughout the thirteen colonies during the 1700s. Most of the enslaved were people of African descent. In the years following the American Revolution, many northern states outlawed slavery. By 1840 most of the enslaved who lived north of the Mason-Dixon Line were set free. Slavery continued, however, to be legal in the Southern states until after the American Civil War.

Indentured Servants

The roots of slavery in America began with indentured servants. These were people brought over from Britain as laborers. Many of these people agreed to work for seven years in return for their passage to the Americas. Others were in debt or were criminals and were forced to work as indentured servants to pay for their debts or crimes.


The Enslaved working on a Farm by Henry P. Moore
The first Africans in the colonies arrived in Virginia in 1619. They were sold as indentured servants and were likely set free after they served their seven years.

How did slavery begin?

As the need for manual labor grew in the colonies, indentured servants became harder to get and more expensive. The first enslaved people were African indentured servants who were forced to be indentured servants for the rest of their lives. By the late 1600s, slavery of Africans became common in the colonies. New laws called "slave codes" were passed in the early 1700s that formalized the legal rights of enslavers and the status of the enslaved.

What jobs did the enslaved have?

The enslaved worked all sorts of jobs. Many of the enslaved were field hands who worked the tobacco fields in the southern colonies. These enslaved people worked extremely hard and were often treated poorly. Other of the enslaved were house servants. These enslaved did chores around the house or helped out in the enslaver's trade shop.

Where did the enslaved live?

The enslaved who worked on farms and plantations lived in small houses near the fields. Although these houses were small and cramped, they had some level of privacy from the enslaver. Small families and communities were able to develop around these quarters. The enslaved that worked in the house had less privacy, sometimes living by themselves in a loft above the kitchen or the stables.

What did they wear?

Field enslaved were generally given one set of clothes that had to last them a year. These clothes were similar in style to what any colonial farmer would wear when working. Women enslaved wore long dresses and men enslaved wore pants and loose shirts. The enslaved working in the house usually dressed nicer, often wearing their enslaver's old clothing.

How were the enslaved treated?

The enslaved were treated differently depending on their enslavers. In general, field enslaved were treated worse than house enslaved. Field enslaved were sometimes beaten and whipped. They were forced to work long hours with little rest.

Even for the enslaved who weren't treated cruelly by their enslavers, being an enslaved person was an awful life. The enslaved had no rights and were under the orders of their enslavers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They could be bought or sold at any time and were seldom able to live together for long as a family. Children were often sold as soon as they could work, never to see their parents again.

Interesting Facts about Slavery During Colonial Times Activities To learn more about Colonial America:

Colonies and Places
Lost Colony of Roanoke
Jamestown Settlement
Plymouth Colony and the Pilgrims
The Thirteen Colonies
Williamsburg

Daily Life
Clothing - Men's
Clothing - Women's
Daily Life in the City
Daily Life on the Farm
Food and Cooking
Homes and Dwellings
Jobs and Occupations
Places in a Colonial Town
Women's Roles
Slavery
 People
William Bradford
Henry Hudson
Pocahontas
James Oglethorpe
William Penn
Puritans
John Smith
Roger Williams

Events
French and Indian War
King Philip's War
Mayflower Voyage
Salem Witch Trials

Other
Timeline of Colonial America
Glossary and Terms of Colonial America


Works Cited

History >> Colonial America


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