Slavery in the American Colonies: Crash Course Black American History #2

Summary

This Crash Course episode explores the origins and evolution of slavery in American colonies. It discusses how slavery became legally accepted and economically vital, starting with the arrival of '20 and odd Negroes' in 1619. The video highlights the shift from indentured servitude to racialized chattel slavery, using cases like Anthony Johnson and John Punch to illustrate the legal codification of racial servitude. It also examines the role of religion in justifying slavery and its lasting impact on racial and economic disparities in the US.

Takeaways

• 📚 Mercantilism was a system where European countries established colonies to produce raw materials and maximize profits by minimizing production costs.
• 🔗 Slavery was introduced as a means to reduce production costs in the American colonies by using unpaid laborers.
• 🌍 The first enslaved Africans arrived in the English colony of Virginia in 1619, marking the beginning of chattel slavery in the United States.
• 🌊 The term 'Atlantic Creoles' refers to Africans who had significant contact with Europeans, spoke multiple languages, and were familiar with Christianity.
• 🤝 European indentured servants were difficult to control due to their legal rights and the reluctance of Europeans to harshly punish fellow Europeans.
• 🏰 Attempts to enslave indigenous people were unsuccessful in meeting labor demands, making enslaved Africans a more desirable labor source.
• 📜 Slavery was not initially codified by law, but as society evolved, laws were established to define and govern it.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Anthony Johnson's story illustrates the complex status of Black people in early Virginia, showing possibilities before slavery became more rigidly defined.
• 📉 The John Punch case in 1640 marked a shift towards racializing slavery, with harsher punishments for Africans compared to European indentured servants.
• 👶 The 'partus sequitur ventrem' rule of 1662 legally established that the child's status followed the mother's, reinforcing the subjugation of Black people.
• 🙏 Religious justifications were used to support the enslavement of Africans, equating Blackness with sin and justifying white rule as divinely ordained.

Q & A

What is mercantilism and how did it relate to the establishment of colonies?

Mercantilism was a system where Western European countries established colonies to produce raw materials. The basic premise was that exports must be greater than imports to make a profit, and colonies were seen as extensions of the home country to maximize profit by minimizing production costs.

How did British colonists reduce production costs in the American colonies?

British colonists reduced production costs by using unpaid laborers, which is to say, slavery. This approach allowed them to minimize costs associated with manual labor.

What was the significance of the arrival of '20 and odd Negroes' in 1619?

The arrival of '20 and odd Negroes' in 1619 at Point Comfort, Virginia, is significant because it represents the origins of chattel slavery in the United States, as these were the first enslaved Africans to arrive in an English colony.

Who were the 'Atlantic Creoles' mentioned in the script?

The 'Atlantic Creoles' were enslaved Africans who had significant contact with Europeans, particularly from Spain and Portugal. They were versed in many languages, had some familiarity with Christianity, and sometimes worked alongside white indentured servants.

Why did European indentured servitude pose issues for the colonists?

European indentured servitude posed issues because indentured servants could only be indentured for a contracted period, usually 4-7 years, after which new laborers had to be found and trained, leading to inconsistent production levels. Additionally, Europeans were hesitant to discipline other Europeans with the same harsh punishments as Africans.

What was the outcome of the John Punch case in 1640?

In the John Punch case, Punch, an African indentured servant, was sentenced to serve for the rest of his life as a laborer after escaping, while the two white indentured servants received lashes and additional years of service. This case illustrates the beginning of racial differentiation in the legal system regarding slavery.

What does 'partus sequitur ventrem' mean and how did it impact slavery?

'Partus sequitur ventrem' is a rule stating that the child's status (slave or free) follows the mother's race. This policy ensured that children born to black women, even if the father was white, would be considered slaves, thus perpetuating the slave population.

How did religious arguments justify the enslavement of Africans?

Religious arguments justified the enslavement of Africans by equating darkness or Blackness with sin, using biblical passages to support the notion of Africans as savages incapable of governing themselves and in need of white rule for Christian salvation.

What was the role of Anthony Johnson in illustrating the evolution of slavery?

Anthony Johnson, who lived in captivity and eventually worked his way out of bondage, shows the possibilities for Black people in early Jamestown, Virginia, before blanket restrictions were placed on them. His story illustrates the shift from race to enslavement as a social status and the evolving legal definitions of slavery.

How did the legal system formalize the rules around enslavement between 1640 and 1660?

Between 1640 and 1660, the legal system formalized enslavement rules through cases like John Punch's, where courts differentiated between white indentured servants and black slaves. New laws established connections between race and social status, cementing the subordinate status of black people.

What implications did the evolution of slavery have on the perception of Black people in the law?

The evolution of slavery led to the legal system viewing Black people as less than fully human, which had wide-reaching implications throughout American history. This perception made Black people more vulnerable to exploitation and manipulation, as they were denied rights and liberties compared to white men who had a voice in colonial society.