African American Slavery Essay Research Paper 1African

African American Slavery Essay, Research Paper 1 African American Slavery America is a racial country, which consists of many different nation people. In the period of 17th and 18th century, Africans were the main colonials in American. By the American Revolution, 20 percent of the overall population in the thirteen colonies was of African descent. The legalized practice of enslaving blacks occurred in every colony. ‘ American’s Journey Through Slavery, the first comprehensive television history of the international events leading to the growth of racial slavery in the United States. Expected to draw more than 20 million viewers nationwide,’ (African In American) The economic realities of the southern colonies, however, perpetuated the institution, which was first

legalized in Massachusetts in 1641. During the Revolutionary era, more than half of all African-Americans lived in Virginia and Maryland. Most of these blacks lived in the Chesapeake region, where they made up more than 50 to 60 percent of the overall population. The majority, but not all, of this African-Americans were slaves. In fact, the first official United States Census, taken in 1790, showed that 8 percent of the black populace was free. ‘Black people, both enslaved and free?’ (African American) Whether free or slave, blacks in the Chesapeake established familial relationships, networks for disseminating information, survival techniques, and various forms of resistance to their condition. ‘Revolution (1750-1805) while the American colonies challenge Britain for

independence, American slavery is challenged form within as men and women fight to define what American will be. When the War of Independence is 2 won, Black people, both enslaved and free, seize on the language of freedom even while the new nation’s Constitution codifies slavery and oppression as a national way life. (African In America) The majority of blacks living in the Chesapeake worked on tobacco plantations and large farms. With the success of tobacco planting, African slavery was legalized in Virginia and Maryland, becoming the foundation of the Southern agrarian economy. Since the cultivation of tobacco was extremely labor-intensive, African slave labor was used, despite questions of whether slavery was morally right. ‘tobacco, petroleum, food, soft drinks and beer,

and liquors and wines.’ (James Avery) For those slaves working on farms the work was a little less tedious than tobacco cultivation, but no less demanding. The variety of food crops and livestock usually kept slaves busy throughout the year. Generally, ’slaves on plantations lived in complete family units, their work dictated by the rising and setting of the sun, and they generally had Sundays off.’ (early history) The disadvantages, however, were stark. Plantation slaves were more likely to be sold or transferred than those in a domestic setting. They were also subject to brutal and severe punishments because they were regarded as less valuable than household or urban slaves. ‘Urban and household slaves generally did not live in complete family units. Most domestic

environments used female labor; therefore there were few men, if any, on domestic sites. Most male slaves in an urban setting were coachmen, waiting men, or gardeners. Others were tradesmen who worked in shops or were hired out.’ (urban slavery ) In general, urban slaves did not have the amount of privacy that field slaves had. They lived in loft areas over the kitchens, laundries, and stables. They often 3 worked seven days a week, even though Sunday’s chores were lessened. Their work days were set by tasks.There were advantages, however. ‘Urban and domestic slaves usually dressed better, were fed better rations, and had greater opportunity to move about in relative freedom. They also were go-betweens for field slaves and the owners. They were privy to a great deal of