Slavery in the British colonies | Period 2: 1607-1754 | AP US History | Khan Academy

Summary

This script explores the widespread presence of slavery in British colonies in the New World around 1750, debunking the myth that it was confined to the southern regions. It highlights the economic reliance on slavery across all colonies, from financing to shipping and agriculture. The script also details the harsh realities of enslaved life, the legal codification of slavery, and the resistance efforts, including the Stono Rebellion. It emphasizes slavery's central role in the colonial economy, shaping the economic prosperity of both the North and the South.

Takeaways

• 🗺️ In 1750, British colonies in the New World had varying percentages of enslaved Africans, with the highest in the south.
• 🔄 Even the northernmost colony, New Hampshire, had enslaved people, contradicting the common misconception that slavery was exclusive to the south.
• 🌐 All British colonies were involved in the institution of slavery, either directly or indirectly through financing, food production, or transportation.
• 🚢 Newport, Rhode Island, was a significant port where enslaved Africans were sold, indicating the northern colonies' participation in the slave trade.
• 🌾 The southern colonies, focused on plantation agriculture, had the largest enslaved populations, with enslaved Africans sometimes outnumbering white people.
• 📜 Colonial governments enacted laws to control enslaved people's lives and define slavery, such as the 1662 Virginia law that children of enslaved women would be enslaved.
• 🚫 Laws also prohibited interracial relationships and defined enslaved Africans as chattel slaves, devoid of legal rights.
• 📉 Over the 1600s, slavery became more racially defined and restrictive, with harsher conditions for the enslaved.
• 💔 Enslaved people faced extreme physical and emotional hardships, including the threat of violence and sexual assault.
• 🎶 Religion, music, dance, and family were crucial for enslaved people's survival and resistance, both covertly and through uprisings like the Stono Rebellion.
• 🏛️ The economic prosperity of the North American colonies was built on slavery, with the north contributing through financing, food supply, and product consumption.

Q & A

What is the main message conveyed by the chart in the script?

The main message is that slavery was not confined to the southern colonies but was present in all British colonies in the New World, with the percentage of enslaved Africans increasing as one moved southward.

Why is there a misconception that slavery only happened in the southern colonies?

There is a misconception because the largest share of enslaved people was in the southern colonies, which focused on plantation agriculture, overshadowing the fact that all colonies had some involvement in the institution of slavery.

What role did the northern colonies play in the institution of slavery?

The northern colonies participated in the institution of slavery by financing it, growing food for the slave colonies, and shipping enslaved Africans, even though they had a smaller enslaved population.

Which colony was one of the largest ports for the entry and sale of slaves in North America?

Newport, Rhode Island, was one of the largest ports where slaves entered the North American colonies and were sold at auction.

What did the law passed in Virginia in 1662 specify regarding the status of children born to enslaved women?

The law specified that the children of enslaved women would follow the condition of their mothers, meaning they would also be enslaved.

How did colonial governments respond to the growth of the enslaved population?

Colonial governments began passing more restrictions on the lives of enslaved people and codifying who was or was not a slave, including laws defining the status of children born to interracial couples.

What were some of the ways enslaved people resisted their condition?

Enslaved people resisted through covert means like breaking tools and overt means such as slave uprisings, including the Stono Rebellion in 1739.

How did the South Carolina government respond to the Stono Rebellion?

The South Carolina government responded by making slave codes even harsher, further restricting the lives and rights of enslaved people.

What was the 'peculiar institution' referred to in the 19th century?

The 'peculiar institution' referred to slavery, which was considered specific to the southern United States, although it was a fundamental part of the economy in all colonies.

How was the economic prosperity of the North American colonies connected to slavery?

The economic prosperity of the North American colonies was connected to slavery through the financing, food supply, shipping, and purchase of products made by enslaved people, which contributed to the overall colonial economy.